10-Year-Old Pet Detective Solves Her Very First Case

[catbyte]

"She came home out of breath, excited and shaking: 'Mom, I think I found him!'"

BY STEPHEN MESSENGER

Meet Bella Salvino — a little girl with big heart for animals, and a clear knack for solving mysteries.



The other day, 10-year-old Bella and her mother found a flyer on their home's doorstep.

A cat named Alfred, belonging to one of their neighbors, had gone missing and his owners were desperate to find him.



Though Bella had never met Alfred before, learning of his disappearance struck a nerve.

“She took the poster inside and put it up on her wall,” Jacqui Salvino, Bella’s mom, recounted to The Dodo. “She talked about Alfred a lot. She even cried because she felt so much empathy for his family, for him.”

But Bella didn’t just sit around feeling bad. Bella decided to act.



That weekend, Bella turned pet detective — taking on the case of the missing cat as if Alfred were her own.

“She jumped on her bike and started combing the neighborhood, calling out for the kitty,” Salvino said. “She was determined to find him.”

Understanding that Alfred was likely scared, Bella stopped to investigate every nook and cranny she thought he could be hiding in.

Then, while searching a storm drain, Bella saw this:



Peering back at her from the shadows was a frightened cat who looked an awful lot like Alfred.

“Bella came home out of breath, excited and shaking: ‘Mom, I think I found him!’” Salvino said, admitting she was skeptical at first. “She took me to the spot where she saw him last.”

This time, armed with some cat treats, a pet carrier and plenty of patience, Bella was able to lure the kitty out for a better look.



After snapping the cat's photo, Bella and her mom then sent it to the number of Alfred's owner listed on the flyer.

And sure enough:



After earning Alfred's trust, Bella was able to coax him into the pet carrier, safe and sound.

She'd done it.



"Bella returned him to a tearful and grateful owner within the hour," Salvino said. "Alfred was home. He was safe, and reunited with his family."



Alfred's family couldn't have been happier to have him home — knowing they had Bella's caring and determination to thank for that.

"This was a defining moment in both of our lives, one I will be forever grateful for," Salvino said. "The power of kindness is undeniable."



Following Alfred's successful rescue, Bella has no plans to hang up her hat anytime soon. In fact, after learning another local cat named Pyper is missing, too, our intrepid young pet detective has decided to take on that case as well.

"Bella is asking to go and start looking for Pyper over the weekend, so we will likely go out as a family and see if we can find him," Salvino said. "This little girl, my tenacious warrior."

https://www.thedodo.com/close-to-home/10-year-old-pet-detective-solves-missing-cat-case

[Bayard]

1. What a great kid!

[Disaffected]

5. Sure is:

But I'm curious - what is that thing attached to her arm?

[Donkees]

9. Might be an insulin pump

[Disaffected]

10. Yeah,

that looks like it alright. Thanks

[tblue37]

2. K&R and thanks. nt

[NJCher]

3. I'm so happy for Alfred and his famb'ly

I'm sure most of you know this, but there actually are people out there who are pet detectives. I've heard interviews with them on the radio. Here's just one.

Click the "found" link for some of her successes:

http://www.jamiekatzpetdetective.com


Some pet detectives are also psychics and use that means of finding pets.

[Disaffected]

4. Don't be conned by "psychics":

Some are deluded, the others are frauds.

[Brother Buzz]

6. I'm married to a pet detective and she adheres to simple old fashion gumshoe techniques.

"Just the facts, ma'am"

She may seem psychic at times but that's only because she has the ability to read between the lines and correctly interpret what is actually happening, asks pertinent questions, and is connected to a support group of other pet detectives who share ideas. She's a good listener, and on a good week, she reconnects three or four pets with owners a week.

I heard that interview on the radio and thought it was kinda cool. My wife thought it odd that people would charge money for doing what she does for love.

[Karadeniz]

7. Way to go, Bella! She has discovered the wonderful feeling of helping others!

[red dog 1]

8. K&R, thanks for posting

Wow! What a story!

[Mosby]

11. K and R