Chips Ahoy!

On Sept. 4, and as folks were celebrating the Labor Day weekend, a local business owner’s cat slipped out the door and embarked on a journey that can never be told (as cats can’t talk).

Sandy and Bob Layman, owners of The Cellar Restaurant in Owego, were heading out of town and had plans in place for their cat, Chips, who was found one summer evening two years ago when their sons were drinking Labatt’s Blue and eating chips around a fire.

At that time, Sandy told them, “Don’t feed that stray”. But the boys fed her chips and poured her a beer. They affectionately named the cat Chips, and kept her around anyhow.

But Labor Day weekend ended up with a sad twist when Chips slipped out of the door, where she was being cared for in downtown Owego, and was not to be found.

According to Sandy, they handed out hundreds of flyers, placed a notice in the Owego Pennysaver, and networked on social media. They also alerted area veterinarians, shelters, and even set live traps.

“So many people in this small town were searching for Chips,” said Sandy. “They prayed, and shared constant words of encouragement,” she added.

The Layman’s were receiving calls from all over from people who had heard of Chips’ plight. One call, according to Sandy, arrived from Baltimore. But none of the tips led them to Chips. The Layman’s were about to lose hope.

Six long weeks had passed until Saturday evening, Oct. 15, when another call of a sighting came from Lisle Road, on the hill above Brick Pond in Owego.

Bob Layman went on this call, but unfortunately the cat that was spotted was not Chips. Bob chatted a bit, and thanked the man who had called. But as he was headed back down the hill, he watched as Chips walked down the road and crossed in front of his car.

Stopping abruptly, Bob called her name and she stopped in her tracks. According to Sandy, Bob parked in a driveway, jumped out of the car, and Chips walked right up to him.

“Only by the Grace of God and His Divine Intervention could these two paths have crossed this way,” said Sandy when Chips was finally found. She had spent many sleepless nights worrying about Chips, and felt a relief like none other when Chips finally came home.

A veterinarian visit was soon in order, and outside of losing weight and some ticks that decided to claim Chips as a host, she is now home and on her way back to good health.

Because of the outpouring received by the community, and the assistance received from several rescue organizations in Owego, the Layman’s have decided to pay back some of the help they received.

On Sunday, Oct. 30, the Layman’s will be throwing a Labatt’s Blue and potato chip party at the Cellar Restaurant on Front Street in Owego from 2 to 4 p.m. All are welcome, to include children.

To pay it forward, the Layman’s are also asking guests to bring much needed pet supplies to be donated to local rescue organizations that assisted – Happy Tails and Maddie’s Meadows.

According to Nancy Brown, from Maddie’s Meadows, they are always in need of food (Purina dry food and 9 Lives or Friskies canned). Maddie’s Meadows also uses horse-bedding pellets for cat litter. “It works great and it’s a lot cheaper,” stated Brown, noting that it can be found at Tractor Supply.

“And of course,” Brown continued, “monetary donations to help with veterinary care for the cats is always useful.”

To donate, bring them to the “Chips” party at The Cellar on Oct. 30 between 2 and 4 p.m., or you can drop them off at the Owego Pennysaver during the week of Oct. 24, Monday through Friday, between the hours of 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

To donate to Maddie’s Meadows, you can make your check payable to them.

We reached out to Happy Tails, and they asked that any donations be diverted to Maddie’s Meadows, based on need.