Microchip solves mystery of the runaway cat

By Jessie Moniz Hardy

Starving, diseased, unloved was the life Michele and Ed Lawrence imagined for their cat, Dorian Gray, when he went on the lam two years ago.

Imagine their surprise when they discovered this week that Dorian Gray has been living it up at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess with his own personal valet, regular meals, and massages.

Dorian Gray and brother Indy started life at the Bermuda High School for Girls.

“My daughter, Blythe, caught them, not without bloodshed, and brought them home,” said Mrs Lawrence.

But tabby Indy turned out to be a bully.

“Dorian Gray would spend most of his time hiding behind the trash tin,” said Mrs Lawrence. “Before he went missing we were worried about him. He was thin because Indy wouldn’t let him eat.”

The Lawrences went on vacation in 2012 and returned to find Dorian had disappeared from their Pitts Bay Road, Pembroke home.

This week Mr Lawrence was touring the new wing at the Fairmont when he noticed a familiar looking grey cat lounging outside the construction site office.

“The cat came right up to him, but he wasn’t sure if it really was Dorian,” said Mrs Lawrence. “There are a lot of friendly grey cats on the Island.”

They chatted with hotel security and learned that the cat, called Smokey by staff, was being cared for by the hotel’s chief valet Carlton Wilkinson and houseman Dennis Harris. Mr Wilkinson gave permission for the Lawrences to take Smokey to the vet to be microchip tested.

The Lawrences had their cats microchipped when they were kittens. This a process where a rice grain-sized chip with a serial number is inserted under the skin of the pet. The number can be read by running a special wand over the pet. The vet keeps a record of the serial number and the owner’s name and contact details.

“They passed the microchip wand over his back and there was a beep,” said Mrs Lawrence. “It was Dorian.”

The trouble was, Indy still ruled the Lawrence home. Since Mr Wilkinson and Mr Harris were fond of Smokey, they agreed he would be happier staying with them.

“We had a hotel cat for 18 years called Tiger,” said Mr Wilkinson. “When he died we had a funeral for him, and there is a little grave marker over where we buried him at the hotel.”

Mr Wilkinson said Smokey has replaced Tiger as hotel ambassador.

“I just want people who have lost pets to know that there is hope,” said Mrs Lawrence. “If he hadn’t been microchipped we would never have known for sure if he was our cat. It is good to have closure and know he is living a happy life.”

The Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) is currently running a campaign called Chip, Chip, Hooray that offers cat microchipping at $20. They also offer a low cost spay and neuter programme CatSnip. For more information call the SPCA at 236-7333 or see www.spca.bm.