Toby was determined to love his family even if they didn’t love him. He had come to the family as a stray, but because he didn’t get along with the family’s other cats, they gave him to a new family.

Although the new family was ready to welcome Toby, he wasn’t ready for them. Instead, he walked an astonishing 12 miles back to his old home. He was excited to see them, but they weren’t too excited to see him.

Instead, they took him to a shelter and asked them to euthanize him said the director of SPCA of Wake County, Tara Lynn. She says he had to be heartbroken to make it all the way back to them only to be rejected. Luckily, the shelter refused to put Toby down. The SPCA quickly came to Toby’s rescue and made sure he’d get the medical care he needed so that he could find a new loving home.

Although Toby was a sweet and affectionate cat, he tested positive for feline immunodeficiency virus and had an upper respiratory infection. He also wasn’t thrilled to be around other cats. By the time Toby was healed and ready for a new family, he had become a favorite among the volunteers and staff. They posted his picture on social media and the phone calls poured in.

It was Michele Puckett who rushed over to the shelter as fast as she could to meet Toby. She even left work so that she could come to the shelter and see if they would be a good match.

Toby now has two new humans and two cat siblings. Michele says he’s pretty much taken over the bed just like he’s lived there forever. She still can’t understand how his former family did what they did.

She is happy to know that Toby has a forever family and hopes that his story will inspire people to give other animals like Toby a second chance. “There are tons of pets who are easily discarded by their families or a breeder. I really hope he inspires other people to go out and adopt.”

Be sure to share the story of Toby’s rescue with your family and friends in hopes that Toby will inspire someone to go out and make a special addition to their family this holiday season.