They say cats have nine lives—and thanks to the Erie Animal Network, Abel just got his second one.

After going missing for nearly a month, Abel’s disappearance sparked a community-wide search effort. It all came to a joyful end when a woman named Sandy called in with a hopeful report: “She said he’s in her yard,” Tracey Durkin said.

A dedicated team of community members, brought together through the Erie Animal Network, had been searching. Then, one morning at 6 a.m., Tracey received the phone call that would change everything.

“I was calling his name, calling his name, and all of a sudden he just came out of the woods,” she said. “I couldn’t even believe I was seeing him.”

Tracey rushed to the location—three miles away from their home in Millcreek—and to her amazement, it really was Abel. The month-long search was finally over.

A $500 reward had been offered to Sandy, who played a key role in bringing Abel home. But in a touching gesture, Tracey shared, “Sandy refused to accept the reward and asked that all the money be given to the animal network.”

The Erie Animal Network—a 100% volunteer-run organization whose mission is to rescue and reunite lost animals—had been by Tracey’s side from day one.

“The real story is not about me and Abel,” she said. “It’s about this community. For one month, they kept posting on Erie Animal Network. They never stopped.”

Inspired by the compassion and persistence she witnessed, Tracey has now decided to join the Erie Animal Network as a volunteer herself.