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'You never give up hope': Missing dog found after 12 years

A toy fox terrier that disappeared from its family’s south Florida home in 2007 has been found over 1,800 kilometres away in Pittsburgh and reunited with her owner.

The 14-year-old pup named Dutchess was found hungry, shivering and in serious need of a nail trim under a shed on Monday (local time).

An owner on the property took the dog to a Humane Animal Rescue location, where staffers were able to locate a microchip and trace the dog back to its owners in Boca Raton, Florida.

Missing dog reunited with owner after 12 years. Source: AP
Katheryn Strang said she never lost hope that she would find her missing dog, Dutchess. Source: AP

The dog’s owner, Katheryn Strang, drove to Pittsburgh for an emotional reunion with Dutchess that was streamed live on the shelters Facebook page.

Ms Strang said she couldn’t believe it when she got the call that her dog had been found after 12 years.

Dutchess went missing when Ms Strang’s son opened the door after school one day and the dog got out and they never saw her again.

Dutchess the missing dog, reunited with owner after 12 years. Source: AP
The 14-year-old dog was found hungry, shivering and in a shed more than 18000 kms away from her home. Source: AP

They were living in Orlando at the time near a busy street and Ms Strang said she assumed Dutchess was either hit by a car or adopted by someone.

She checked shelters daily in the weeks after the dog went missing, and continued to pay the annual fee on the microchip, as well as update her contact information whenever she moved.

As Ms Strang kissed and hugged Dutchess in front of local media, she said she never stopped looking for her beloved companion.

“They (pets) are like your babies. You don’t give up hope,” she said.

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