It all began with a gut feeling. Erin Keller couldn't shake the strange sense that she needed to return to her old neighborhood and check on the stray orange cat she'd been feeding for months. Her husband wasn't sure—it could be someone else's pet. But nobody in the area seemed to claim the cat, and Erin's instincts pushed her to act.
When she arrived and stepped out of the car, the once-skittish cat did something unexpected. She ran straight into Erin's arms, melting into her embrace. At that moment, Erin knew she'd made the right choice to bring the stray home, not realizing this simple act would answer the prayers of a man over 1,000 miles away.
The Surprise at the Vet
In 2016, Erin and her husband took the orange cat to the vet for a routine checkup. They were prepared to officially welcome her into their family. But instead of joyful news, they were met with heartbreak: the vet revealed that the cat had a microchip and wasn't theirs after all.
“This isn’t your cat,” a vet tech sternly informed them, planning to keep her at the clinic. Stunned and confused, the couple felt as though they'd lost a beloved member of their family before they'd even fully adopted her.
But then, the door opened again.
The vet had contacted the cat’s original owner, an elderly man named William Dorsch, and handed the phone to Erin. What followed was an emotional conversation that neither Erin nor William would ever forget.
A Cat’s Long Journey Home
William shared that the cat, named Ladybug, had been his loyal companion for years. She had gone missing three years earlier during a road trip from South Florida to Ohio. Ladybug had slipped out of the car during a stop in Tampa, and despite William’s desperate three-day search, she was nowhere to be found. Heartbroken but with no other choice, William had continued his journey, never giving up hope that his dear cat was safe.
For years, he prayed that Ladybug would be found. When he learned that Erin and her husband had taken her in and loved her as much as he did, he was overcome with emotion. Knowing that he was about to move into a care facility that didn’t allow pets, William asked one important question:
“Do you love her?”
Through tears, Erin responded, “Yes! We’ll love her forever.”
With that, William released ownership of Ladybug to the Kellers, grateful that his prayers had been answered. Erin felt goosebumps as she realized the enormity of what had just happened.
A New Chapter for Ladybug, Now Pusskin
Ladybug, now renamed Pusskin, quickly became an irreplaceable part of the Keller household. William continued to send letters, photos, and even checks labeled "for cat food"—though the Kellers never cashed them, choosing instead to keep the checks as cherished mementos of their bond with the elderly man who had loved Ladybug first.
As the Keller family grew with the arrival of two daughters, Pusskin became their loyal protector, watching over the girls as they played in the yard, followed them during their lessons, and even bounced along with them on the trampoline. More like a dog than a typical cat, Pusskin was always by their side, making sure her family felt safe and loved.
A Final Goodbye
For years, the Kellers stayed in touch with William, sharing stories of Pusskin's adventures. But two years ago, the letters stopped. William had mentioned battling cancer, and when the Kellers searched for him online, they found his obituary. He had passed away, but his prayers had been answered in the most beautiful way possible.
Though they never connected with his family, the Kellers cherish the letters and photos, reminders of the unique bond they shared with William. His love for Ladybug had brought them all together, and in a way, Pusskin was a divine gift that helped heal William’s broken heart.
To Erin, her family, and Pusskin, the story of Ladybug’s long journey is a reminder that sometimes, love and faith can bring people and animals together in the most miraculous of ways.
