Puppy missing for 12 years miraculously reunited with owner

A tiny border terrier that vanished in the UK when she was just a puppy has miraculously been reunited with her owner — a whopping 12 years later.

Liz Eldridge, 51, had bought the puppy — named Missie — as a birthday gift for her son Oscar but the dog suddenly vanished from their Hertfordshire home back in February 2011.

The mom spent the next eight years driving all over the country chasing possible leads to find her beloved pooch.

Eldridge, who works for the UK’s National Health Service, eventually gave up hope — resigning herself to the fact Missie had likely been stolen.

But her luck changed last week when she was notified Missie had been found and traced back to her via a microchip ID implant.

The overwhelmed owner said a member of the public had located the missing canine and handed her over to animal control services.

“It was a mixture of pure joy but also sadness .. As Missie was in a terrible state,” Eldridge said of being reunited with her pet.

“She had obviously been used constantly for breeding and was very nervous and timid. We believe she had been kept on a chain and beaten.”

“Every time I went to put a leash on, she was so scared,” she added.

After being taken care of for a week, Eldridge said Missie was already showing signs of improvement.

“Her tail is starting to wag and hopefully she’s beginning to realize she’s back home safe and sound,” she said.

With Post wires