23-Year-Old Cat Reunited with Owner in Dallas

A 23-year-old cat has been reunited with his owner in Dallas thanks to the help of a good Samaritan and Dallas Animal Services.

The cat, named Buddy, was located May 24 in far North Dallas by a passerby who contacted authorities for help, according to the group's Facebook page.

An animal control officer brought Buddy to Dallas Animal Services, where he and veterinarian Dr. Deborah Thorne cared for him.

Buddy is very frail and thin due to his age, so staff at the facility kept him comfortable for several days until his owner, Tom Gillespie, arrived to claim him.

Gillespie had been searching for Buddy for days until a neighbor alerted him that the good Samaritan had contacted Dallas Animal Services.

For the rest of the story, here's how Dallas Animal Services described it:

"But there's more to the story. For three years, Tom's brother had cared for Buddy, a neighborhood stray, and the two had enjoyed a very special bond. So when Tom's brother passed away, Tom never hesitated to take Buddy in and care for him. That was nearly 20 years ago. No one is sure how old Buddy is, but it turns out he is at least 23, and maybe older. The good news is this old boy is now back home safe where he belongs, and we'd like to wish Tom and Buddy many more happy years together."