Avishka Kaumadi and her pet cat Chuuti. SUPPLIED
“The whole Dubai is looking for you.” Those words from a pet transport agent capture the extraordinary wave of support behind the search for Chuuti, a cat who went missing at Dubai International Airport and was found 10 days later.
For his owner, Avishka Kaumadi, the news brought relief after days of sleepless nights, uncertainty and desperate waiting. But the happy ending is not complete yet: Kaumadi is in Sri Lanka, waiting for her beloved cat to be safely transported home, with his flight expected on Wednesday night (October 21).
Kaumadi shared the news of Chuuti’s discovery in an emotional Facebook post on Wednesday, thanking SriLankan Airlines, dnata, Dubai International Airport and the people who helped spread the word and supported her throughout the ordeal.
“Today, I am grateful that my beloved Chuuti has been found. Words cannot fully express the emotions I feel. Although I am still waiting for him to be safely brought back to Sri Lanka, knowing that he has been found has given me renewed hope and strength,” she wrote.
The search began on October 11, when Kaumadi was preparing to fly from Dubai to Sri Lanka with Chuuti booked to travel as air cargo.
She said she had completed the required paperwork and payments before Chuuti was inspected and returned to his carrier. After his details were checked against the accompanying documents, she proceeded through immigration. Then, while she was in the duty-free area, an airline staff member called to tell her that Chuuti had escaped from his carrier.
Kaumadi immediately asked to return to help find him but was told that permission was required.
When asked whether she would board her flight without her cat, she was unequivocal. “I clearly told him that I would not board the flight without my cat,” she said.
Around midnight, she was taken to the cargo area, where she and a staff member spent more than an hour calling for Chuuti. But darkness and limited lighting made the search difficult, and they could not find him.
Kaumadi was eventually taken back to the boarding area, where a room was arranged for her. She remained at the airport for approximately 28 hours, hoping for news. The following day, she returned to Dubai International Airport to follow up. At one point, she was shown another white cat to identify, but it was not Chuuti.
She was advised to return to Sri Lanka while efforts to locate him continued. During a meeting with a representative of the Dubai Airport Management Team, she said she was told arrangements could be made to transport Chuuti to Sri Lanka if he was found, even if it took several weeks.
Throughout the search, Kaumadi said she drew strength from the thousands of people who shared her appeals, made phone calls, offered encouragement and prayed for Chuuti’s safe return. “Every prayer, every message, every phone call, and every word of kindness gave me strength when I felt like I had none left,” she wrote.
She singled out pet transport agent Sankha Wickramarachchi for helping with the documentation and paperwork from the beginning. “He has gone above and beyond to help me, even sacrificing his sleep to ensure that I receive the assistance I need,” she said.
Wickramarachchi’s words, “The whole Dubai has been looking for you,” reflected the support that Kaumadi said had helped her through the difficult days.
She also thanked SriLankan Airlines, dnata and Dubai International Airport for their cooperation and efforts during the search. “A special and heartfelt thank you to SriLankan Airlines, dnata, and Dubai International Airport for their dedication, cooperation, and efforts during this difficult situation,” she wrote.
For Kaumadi, Chuuti is not simply a pet to be brought home. He is family, and the separation has been deeply painful. “Chuuti is not just a pet to me. He is my beloved child, my family, and a piece of my heart. The days without him have been among the most painful of my life,” she wrote.
Now that Chuuti has been found, Kaumadi says: “Now, I am waiting for the most beautiful moment of all: the day I can finally hold my precious boy in my arms again and bring him home where he belongs.” CAM/ICA/Expat Media
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