Upon Lowe’s cat Francine’s return home, Richmond SPCA waives cat adoption fees
VENN
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- The famous Lowe's cat Francine has been found safe and is home. Francine has called the Lowe's on West Broad Street in Richmond her home for eight years.
In September, Francine wandered onto a semi truck and ended up at a distribution center in Garysburg, North Carolina.
Just before midnight on Saturday, Oct. 4, Francine walked into one of the traps set out for her. At around 4 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 6, Lowe’s employees took the 90 minute drive to Garysburg to bring her home.
Francine captured on surveillance. (Courtesy of Lowe's)
"So relieved, obviously, that she was found safe, that she's back with the folks who love and provide to her," said CEO of the Richmond SPCA Tamsen Kingry. "Everybody has known and loved Francine. She is beloved not just by the staff at Lowe's but by every single customer who's ever visited or even people who've heard her story from all over the country."
The Richmond SPCA quickly jumped on trying to get her home and sent two employees to North Carolina last week with six other volunteers.
They weren't able to go on the distribution center property but handed out flyers and told residents to keep an eye out.
In honor of Francine's return, they’re doing something special.
"We are so thrilled that Francine has been found that in celebration of her homecoming the Richmond SPCA is going to waive adoption fees on Monday and Tuesday for all cats and kittens," Kingry told 8News. "We're just forever grateful to the community for everything that they did to see that happy outcome happen."
The @wheresfrancine Instagram account reached millions of people around the world with updates throughout this whole saga. Elise Gilmore who runs the account said a "Francine Fest" gathering will be held on Wednesday at Mainline Brewery from 6 to 10 p.m. 10% of sales will go to the Richmond SPCA.
