Cross-Country Toby Cat Leaves Special Mark In Riverside County

RIVERSIDE, CA — Toby, a 13-year-old, domestic short-haired cat, has made quite an impression on some local human hearts, and now he's leaving Riverside County to reunite with his special people.

Amber Jennings raised Toby out of state. Photos of their earlier life together show her snuggling with the happy cat. In one she's wearing a Santa's cap and he's wrapped in her holiday neck scarf, in another she kisses and holds him tightly, and in another baby and cat are chumming. The images show just how integral a four-legged creature can be in a family's life.

Jennings grew up in the Shreveport, La., area, near her uncle, Kirk Copeland. Life opportunities eventually brought her to Oklahoma. Copeland decided to move west too, all the way to Riverside.

Copeland ended up with Toby because the two needed each other.

“Toby was my cat before my uncle got him,” Jennings explained. “We started traveling for work and Toby was lonely. My uncle ended up moving to California and I moved to Oklahoma. It was the perfect fit for Toby.”

But there was a curveball. In late October, Copeland was not answering his phone. Relatives were worried and requested a welfare check. Sadly, Riverside Police discovered Copeland dead in his downtown apartment.

Riverside County Animal Services officer Mary Salazar got the call from Riverside police: a sweet gray kitty had lost his person. As per protocol, Toby was impounded at the Western Riverside County/City Animal Shelter in Jurupa Valley, his future unknown.

After hearing about her uncle's passing, Jennings searched for Toby's whereabouts. She contacted the shelter. Yes, he was there.

Despite being 1,200 miles away in Oklahoma, Jennings knew she couldn't let Toby stay in Riverside County without family. It was important to reunite with the cat as a way to honor her uncle.

“I thought it was the only way we could get closure and my uncle would be at rest,” Jennings said. “Toby meant so much to him and was his companion. Toby’s also gotten me through many ups and downs in life and it’s just the perfect happy ending — or new beginning — for us to have him home again.”

Work began on a reunification. Rather than drive Toby 19 hours to Oklahoma, a special flight was coordinated with help from Southwest Airlines, which offered a trip to Oklahoma City minus the pet fare.

“Southwest is honored to be able to play a small role in helping get Toby to his fur-ever home,” Southwest Airlines spokesperson Alyssa Foster said.

A nonprofit organization that helps with the county’s animal shelters and programs jumped into action, too. The Animal Solutions Konnection Foundation bought the pet carrier to transport Toby and sent his family a $100 gift card from PetSmart.

“These are the heartwarming stories we love to hear about — and be a part of,” said Carolyn Badger, president of the ASK Foundation. “We wish Toby a safe journey.”

Toby was safely packed up and left the Jurupa Valley shelter at 2 p.m. Thursday, bound for a 4:25 p.m. flight out of Ontario International Airport, destination Oklahoma City, where Jennings awaited his 10:50 p.m. arrival.

"His new home will be in Duncan, Okla., with a woman who loved him for several of his early years in Shreveport, La.," Riverside County Department of Animals Services spokesperson John Welsh explained.

Toby arrived safely, perhaps a little worn from the trip, but that didn't stop Jennings and her children from loving all over him upon his airport arrival. A bittersweet holiday reunion, given the circumstances, but a cherished family memory to be sure.

Welsh isn't the only one with a soft spot for Toby. Animals Services employee Kristina Klein bonded with the purring machine, and spent time with him daily, giving him love and scratches.

"He's such a sweet cat," Klein said via video (watch below). "I'm so stoked this worked out."

"I'll miss you," she said. "Bye Toby."