In a heartwarming turn of events, Francine—the beloved feline fixture of a Lowe’s store in Richmond, Virginia—has been found safe after mysteriously vanishing for over two weeks. Her unexpected journey took her 85 miles away to a distribution center in North Carolina, sparking a viral search campaign and an outpouring of community support.
Francine, who has been part of the Lowe’s West Broad Street store for nine years, is cherished by both employees and regular customers. “She is one of our top employees,” joked department supervisor Wayne Schneider. “She gives you no trouble. She’s never been written up.”
The mystery began in mid-September 2025 when Francine went missing. Concerned staff and locals launched a search effort, even creating an Instagram account called @WheresFrancine, which quickly gained over 30,000 followers. Flyers were posted, thermal drones deployed, and humane traps set up—all in hopes of bringing her home.
Security footage eventually revealed that Francine had wandered into the back of a delivery truck bound for a Lowe’s distribution center in Garysburg, North Carolina. After combing through footage from 246 cameras and persistent searching, Francine was finally located and safely returned.
“She’s been gifted a fashionable new harness, complete with a tracking tag,” said store manager Mike Sida. “We’re glad to have her home.”
Francine’s story is a reminder of how deeply animals can become part of our communities—and how far people will go to bring them back.
Source: ABC News – Beloved Lowe’s store cat found in another state after more than 2-week search
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