By Mary Walton
Abbie Grace in her stroller; owner Kymmy Pyne is all smiles. Photo by Mary Walton
Perhaps you saw Kymmy Pyne pushing an empty pink pet stroller through the streets of Ocean Grove, a disconsolate expression on her face as she looked from left to right. Or the flyers she posted advertising her lost cat.
But Tuesday morning she was all smiles after receiving a call. The cat, Abbie Grace, had surfaced under a porch on Mt. Hermon Way. And here’s the interesting part: last year she had run away and turned up at exactly the same location.
Or maybe the cat’s escape is the interesting part: Abbie bolted last Friday as her owner tried to thwart a robbery.
As Pyne told it, she was walking near the gas station by the Windmill when she saw a woman soliciting money from people walking by. As a man reached for his wallet, the woman reached for his money. The man cried out that he was being robbed. “Call 911.” Pyne let go of Abbie’s leash to grab her cell phone, and Abbie ran away.
When the police answered Pyne’s call, she told them a robbery was taking place, and added, “My cat ran away.” She gave chase after Abbie but then remembered that another of her cats, plus her wallet and her cell phone, were still in the stroller. While she was retrieving those items, Abbie got away.
Why, you may wonder, was Abbie in a stroller to begin with? “She’s an indoor cat,” Pyne said. “I never let her outdoors. I have two other cats and they’re indoor cats too.” The stroller excursions are Abbie’s only exposure to the outside world.
Abbie’s escape last year was also full of drama. The stroller was stationed outside Clancy’s. The person who was supposed to be watching her fell down on the job. Abbie ran across Main Street and disappeared for five days. An Ocean Grove homeowner who saw Pyne’s notices called and said the cat was in his yard. Pyne rushed over but by then the cat was gone. Next door was a neighbor, who was deaf. But Pyne, who said she knows sign language, was able to communicate with her. And the neighbor signed that Abbie was under a porch.
After relating these stories, a happy Pyne continued on her way. “I have to take down the fliers so nobody keeps worrying about her.”
Oh, but as for the attempted robbery, Pyne doesn’t know how that turned out.
Glad to hear you found her!
First, glad to hear that the cat was found, and I hope the suspect was caught.
Second, am wondering if the suspect is the same woman (with a cane!) who was seen panhandling on the south end of OG last week. A neighbor who was visiting me on my porch last Friday night was approached for 25 cents, which was quickly upped to $1.00 as he reached into his pocket. Turns out he didn’t have his wallet with him so he asked if I could oblige. My answer was, “Don’t go there or she’ll be back!”
Can you give a description of the woman with a cane? I’ve seen a strange woman with a cane walk by my house few times this week.
The panhandling woman with a cane is thin, dark skinned, and appears to have an engaging way about her (as in smiling and striking up a conversation). Her cane is the metal kind with a cuff that attaches to the arm.
Yup…that’s her. She was singing at the top of her lungs while walking by the other day. At least she’s confident.
I’ve seen this singing woman too. It is sad but the right thing to do is not give her money. They make animal strollers with netting all around and zip closed-Pet Smart has them.