10-Year-Old Pet Detective Finds Missing Cat

10-year-old Bella Salvino is a little girl who has a big heart for animals, as well as a penchant for mystery solving. She cracked a case of a missing cat after she and her mother found a missing cat flyer on their doorstep.

The missing cat in question was Alfred. He was the beloved pet of her neighbors and they were desperate to get him back.

Photo: The Dodo / Jacqui Salvino

Even though Bella had never met Alfred, the young girl knew that she needed to help find him.

Photo: The Dodo / Jacqui Salvino

The other day, 10-year-old Bella and her mother found a flyer on their home’s doorstep. 

Jacqui Salvino, Bella’s mom said to The Dodo, “She took the poster inside and put it up on her wall. She talked about Alfred a lot. She even cried because she felt so much empathy for his family, for him.” 

Bella turned into a pet detective that weekend, hot on the case of missing Alfred.

Photo: The Dodo / Jacqui Salvino

“She jumped on her bike and started combing the neighborhood, calling out for the kitty,” Jacqui said. “She was determined to find him.” 

Bella stopped to investigate every single nook and cranny she came across, understanding that it was most likely that the missing cat would be scared and was most likely hiding.

Photo: The Dodo / Jacqui Salvino

While searching a storm drain, Bella saw a pair of eyes peeking out, watching her.

It looked so much like Alfred.

“Bella came home out of breath, excited and shaking ‘Mom, I think I found him!’” Salvino said but the mother admitted that she was a bit skeptical at first. “She took me to the spot where she saw him last.”

Bella returned to the storm drain, this time prepared with cat treats, a pet carrier, and loads of patience in order to try to lure the cat out to get a better look at him.

Photo: The Dodo / Jacqui Salvino

She took a picture and sent it to her mom who then forwarded it to the number that Alfred’s owner listed on the flyer.

The case was solved: it was Alfred.

Photo: The Dodo / Jacqui Salvino

Bella earned the cat’s trust and managed to get him out of the storm drain and into the pet carrier where he was safe and sound.

She had done it!

“Bella returned him to a tearful and grateful owner within the hour,” Salvino said. “Alfred was home. He was safe, and reunited with his family.”

Photo: The Dodo / Jacqui Salvino

Alfred’s family couldn’t have been happier with Alfred’s safe return, but more so, they couldn’t get over Bella’s care and determination which helped loads.

Photo: The Dodo / Jacqui Salvino

“This was a defining moment in both of our lives, one I will be forever grateful for,” Salvino said. “The power of kindness is undeniable.”

Alfred’s safe rescue wasn’t the end of it for Bella. In fact, the intrepid 10-year-old is back on the case, this time looking into the case of another local cat who’s gone missing: Pyper.

Photo: The Dodo / Jacqui Salvino

“Bella is asking to go and start looking for Pyper over the weekend, so we will likely go out as a family and see if we can find him,” Salvino said. “This little girl, my tenacious warrior.”

What a wonderful little girl.