Caring for Cats and Supporting The Community: The Cat Butler Bournemouth Becomes a Scan Angel

July marks Pet Loss Prevention Month, and it’s the perfect time to shine a light on an important volunteer role that’s quietly making a huge difference to lost and found pets across the UK — the Scan Angel. We’re delighted to share that The Cat Butler Bournemouth franchise owner, Alex Booth, has recently become one.

As soon as Alex joined The Cat Butler team, she began to notice just how many local posts and pleas appeared about lost and found pets — and how difficult it can be to reunite owners with their beloved animals. Moved by these stories, Alex decided to take action. She purchased a microchip scanner and signed up as a Scan Angel — a network of unpaid volunteers who help scan lost pets and assist in reuniting them with their owners.

I just wanted to help get pets back home where they belong,” says Alex. “Becoming a Scan Angel felt like a simple but powerful way to make a real difference.

Unlike dog wardens or vet clinics that typically operate during set working hours, Scan Angels are available far more flexibly. In fact, there are now three times more Scan Angels in the UK than there are dog wardens — and many offer help 365 days a year, often around the clock.

Recently, Alex was contacted to help with a beautiful young Bengal cat who had been lingering in someone’s garden for several days. She was able to scan the cat, identify the microchip number, and pass the details to the microchip company so the owner could be contacted — resulting in a happy reunion.

She’s also been called out to scan cats who turned out not to be lost at all — just independent free spirits enjoying the hospitality of multiple gardens! And in one memorable case, Alex was contacted by someone who had been “adopted” by a pregnant cat that gave birth under her bed. Sadly, the cat wasn’t chipped, but Alex provided advice and support — including putting the finder in touch with Cats Protection — to help her care for the new mum and her kittens.

Alex’s new role as a Scan Angel is a beautiful extension of the values we uphold at The Cat Butler — care, compassion, community, and a commitment to the welfare of all cats.

If you ever find a lost pet, simply enter your postcode on the Microchip Central website to find your nearest Scan Angel: Find a Scan Angel | Microchip Central

We’re so proud of Alex for going above and beyond in her community. She’s not just caring for cats in the comfort of their own homes — she’s helping them find their way back there, too.

Sandra James

Owner & Founder

The Cat Butler was set up by Sandra James in recognition of the fact that a stay in a cattery can be unsettling for many cats and also their owners.