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Beloved Lowe's store cat safely returns home after weekslong, 85-mile journey
Francine, a calico cat, has been living at the Lowe's location in Richmond, Virginia, for eight years, but went missing after hitching a ride on a distribution truck

RICHMOND, Va. — Two weeks after going missing, a beloved and unusual Lowe's employee was found and returned home.

Meet Francine, a calico cat who has been living at and livening up a Lowe's Home Improvement store in Richmond, Virginia, for the past eight years. She's loved by the community so much that she has been dubbed the unofficial mascot for the city and its location.

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Over the years, Francine became a staple at the location with employees like associate Wayne Schneider calling her "one of us."

"She is one of our top employees. I mean, she gives you no trouble," he told Good Morning America. "She's never been written up."

So when she suddenly went missing in September, the community rallied around in hopes of finding her.

Social media accounts dedicated to finding her were created, generating tens of thousands of followers on the hunt for the cat. Signs and flyers with Francine’s picture were also placed around the facility, according to Lowe's.

“From the start, we knew we’d do whatever it took to bring Francine home,” Store Manager Mike Sida said in a statement. “She’s part of who we are here.”

After reviewing 246 cameras monitoring the distribution center, bringing in thermal drones to scan the area, and scouring the facility, Francine was found 85 miles away, in another state, at another facility.

Turns out she had hopped onto a truck, which drove her to a sister facility in Garysburg, North Carolina.

A local animal shelter put out traps and bait, which successfully caught Francine in the middle of the night on Oct. 4.

Schneider and Sida got in their car at 4 a.m. Monday and made the 90-minute trek to pick up Francine.

"We care for Francine so much, and we’re so thankful for everyone who helped, from our associates to animal control and our neighbors," Sida said. "She’s more than our store cat — she’s part of our family."

To prevent a similar situation in the future, the furry feline has been fitted with a brightly colored harness with identifying information and a tracker.

Now that Francine has had a few days to relax from her "two-week vacation," a local brewery is hosting "Francine Fest" on Wednesday to welcome her back home.

While the feline won't make an appearance, the community is raising funds for the Richmond SPCA and donations for Richmond Animal Care and Control.