WEST OLIVE, Mich. (WZZM) -- A lakeshore woman thought her family's pet cat was dead weeks after it slipped out of her house. Then she received a phone call that led to a reunion with her beloved pet -- thanks to a microchip.

Esther Sue is a seven-month-old house cat that likes to play fetch. But one afternoon last month Esther Sue's owner, Carla Vanderploeg, was in a rush and, as she left, so did esther sue.

"I was going out the door there one day, rushing out, and she just got out under my foot," says Vanderploeg. "She had been kind of been wanting to get outside a little bit and she was determined to that day."

When Esther Sue failed to return within a couple of days, Vanderploeg posted signs around her neighborhood and sent out an SOS on Facebook, all to no avail.

Weeks later Carla and a friend were driving on a nearby road when they found what they thought was Esther Sue -- the remains of a cat, unrecognizable after it was run over by a car.

This is a story about urban and suburban wildlife.  It’s probably a story that is repeated across West Michigan from the lakeshore to Greater Grand Rapids.  You can imagine this story happening in Grandville, Hudsonville, and Walker on the west side to Ada, Cascade, and Lowell on the east side and Rockford and Sparta to the north and Kentwood and Wyoming to the south.  It’s a story about how backyard critters can entertain us, and at other times, causes us to cringe.  This particular story is based in the Forest Hills neighborhood in eastern Kent County. 

Part 1 – Meet the Cast of Characters:

My dog, George, loves to watch what’s going on in our backyard.  My husband and I have our TV set; George has his “Backyard TV Set”.  Sometimes the scene in the backyard is a drama, other times it’s a comedy.  George can spend hours watching the “characters” having breakfast, lunch and dinner.  Eating a

West Olive, MI - Harbor Humane Society is hosting three special holiday events for pets and people, and has a great gift idea for those very special or hard-to-buy-for family members and friends.

• On “Black Friday,” Nov. 25, adopt any animal with a majority of black fur and receive 50 percent off the adoption fee. Restrictions do apply.
• On Dec. 4 check out the Howliday Open House at the shelter from noon to 4 p.m. There will be special holiday adoption fees on all cats and dogs, microchipping for only $10 for current pets, a pet food drive, door prizes, special coupons and refreshments.
• On Dec. 11 Santa Paws will be at Harbor’s thrift shore, Shelby’s Place at 12360 Felch St., from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Photos of your pet with Santa are only $5 and all proceeds benefit Harbor Humane Society.