'Miracle': Cat Reunited With Couple After 7 Years Living As Stray

ROCHESTER, NH — Nancy and Dave Bryant, an animal lover couple in Rochester, were heartbroken when Benny, their black cat, got away in 2013. After a long search, the couple could not find him and had given up.

"We just figured something got him, so we lost hope," Nancy Bryant told the USA Today.

Now, seven years later, Benny is back home.

A good Samaritan found the couple's beloved cat living as a stray and took him to a veterinarian in Portsmouth, according to the USA Today report. He was transferred to the New Hampshire Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals shelter in nearby Stratham, where employees were able to use a microchip to track down the Bryants.

“It took us a few days to believe it, even though he was right here,” Nancy told the national newspaper.

“It was like a miracle chain,” Dave added.

Kelly Marinel, manager of the shelter, touted the importance of pet owners using microchips.

“Microchips are amazing, because no matter what, the cat has an owner linked to it,” she said.

Because of the microchip found in Benny, the 14-year-old cat rejoins the Bryant family that includes another cat, a dog, guinea pig and cockatiel.

"They are our family," Nancy said.

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