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Angus the cat came back — eight years later

Angus was reunited with his Etobicoke family after they were contacted by Brampton Animal Services, eight years after Angus' disappearance.

The cat came back — eight years later.

Angus the cat went missing in October 2005.

He often went exploring the neighbourhood on his own. This time, he didn't come home.

His Etobicoke owners, David and Mary Dalton, walked the streets, looking for their cat.

They put up posters, took out ads in the local papers, and even offered a reward for the white-and-black cat's return.

And even though years passed with no sign of Angus, Mary continued her search.

"Once a week, I would always check the public postings on the Toronto Humane Society’s website," she told CBC News.

On April 7, the Brampton Animal Shelter called with incredible news:

"The man said, 'Do you have a cat named Angus?'" David recalled.

"I couldn't believe it. I really couldn't believe it," Mary added.

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Angus had been found on a country road.

"It was total shock and excitement that we'd been able to successfully trace the microchip and the owners came right away to pick up Angus," said Kathy Duncan, a manager at the shelter.

Angus, now 11, was healthy — he'd gained a pound during his time away — and ready to go home.

"We don’t know where he's been," Mary told the Brampton Guardian. "You just have to use your imagination."

His owners believe he was getting care during his mysterious time away.

"He must have been in somebody’s house, because he’s in such good shape," Mary told CBC News.

And while Angus is back at home with the Daltons, the other family pets — cats Shakespeare, Sunny Squash and Simon, Angus' brother — don't appear to recognize him.

"He's still very loving," Mary told the Toronto Sun. "But not too loving to his brother."

Brampton Animal Services workers are sharing Angus' story to show how important it is for pet owners to microchip their pets.

"This is why we ensure that every animal adopted from Brampton Animal Services is microchipped before it leaves our care," said Duncan. "The microchip is the only reason we were able to reunite this couple with their pet."