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Cat met with heartbreak after walking 12 miles home

A heartbreaking twist ends in a happy ending for Toby the cat.

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Toby’s family gave him away, only to escape and walk 12 miles back home to them. In a heartbreaking twist, the family brought Toby to a shelter and asked to have him euthanized.

It’s a story that will “rip your heart out,” Mondy Lamb of the SPCA of Wake County said.

In a Facebook post, the SPCA said, “The family he thought had loved him took him to a shelter and asked staff to euthanize him.”

The SPCA did not identify which city in Wake County Toby came from. Many on the comments on the Facebook post were quick to criticize the family.

The SPCA recognizes there are many reasons why someone can’t keep a pet, which is why they work with several area shelters to help save lives.

Lamb said they took Toby in on February 27 and learned he was infected with feline immunodeficiency virus, which is contagious to other cats.

“He will require care over his lifetime,” Lamb said.

Toby is a 7-year-old medium hair orange and white Maine Coon cat, a breed known for long fur that sticks out of its ears and paws.

His story has been shared on social media thousands of times.

“My sister in New Hampshire saw it,” said Michele Puckett of Raleigh.

Puckett and her three sisters are all animal lovers. Growing up the sisters had a cat that looked just like Toby. All four of them wanted to adopt Toby.

“We’re all fighting over him,” Puckett said.

In the end, Puckett adopted Toby and brought him to his forever home with her in Raleigh.

“He’s so sweet. He’s the perfect little kitty cat,” Puckett said. “I don’t get why the other family didn’t want him. He’s so sweet. He purrs and cuddles.”

Toby was in a foster home before he was officially adopted by Puckett on April 13.

Finding new places to relax!!

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