Pet detectives help to reunite Tom the cat with his Buxton family

Deborah Carrington with Tom. Picture by Anne Shelley.

Deborah Carrington and her son Dan contacted Animal Search UK's professional team when their 15-month-old black cat Tom went missing from their home on King's Road.

Deborah said: "We're delighted to have Tom back.

"He's now safe and sound with us and his brother Jerry."

Deborah Carrington with Tom and Jerry. Picture by Anne Shelley.

The pet detectives - led by former West Midlands Police officer Tom Watkins who has more than 18 years of investigation experience - were called after Tom vanished following a heavy downpour at the end of last month.

An Animal Search UK spokesperson said: "We tailored our search to the surrounding area for places that Tom may have been hiding or trapped, such as sheds and outbuildings.

"While on the search we conducted systematic house-to-house enquiries in the area, and the team is always equipped with thermal imaging cameras, microchip scanners, torches and treats."

Eventually a very hungry and thirsty Tom was found in a garage.

Mr Watkins said: "Unfortunately, work and family commitments often mean that owners don't have as much time as they'd like to devote scouring the area looking for their missing pet, and this is one of the ways in which Animal Search UK can help.

"Our professional, uniformed specialist search teams can usually be at any location in the UK within 48 hours to help owners find a missing pet."

For more information, visit www.animalsearchuk.co.uk.