A dog owner was left devastated when his puppy jumped over the back fence and disappeared, only to return seven years later and recognise him.
Jim Gardiakos’ English staffy Mia was only little when she leapt the six foot high fence in 2010 and ran away from the Altona Meadows property.
She was described as a ‘good-natured’ pet and even had a tag on her collar with a phone number on it.
Jim Gardiakos’ English staffy Mia was only young when she leapt the six foot high fence in Altona Meadows and ran away (pictured today)
Her Melbourne-based owner looked around the neighbourhood for 12 months, even posting flyers, in hopes he would be reunited with the two-year-old pooch but she was nowhere to be seen.
‘At night I walked around and put flyers everywhere,’ Mr Gardiakos told Nine News.
He didn’t want to give up because Mia felt like ‘part of the family,’ but his hopes were beginning to dwindle after the first year.
It wasn’t until September that Mr Gardiakos received a call from Central Animal Records to say Mia had been taken to a vet and her microchip scanned.
Her Melbourne-based owner looked around the neighbourhood for 12 months – even posting flyers in case she was recognised (pictured)
He didn’t want to give up because Mia felt like ‘part of the family,’ but his hopes were beginning to dwindle after the first year (pictured together now)
Sadly, the person who had taken the now nine-year-old dog to the vets had also taken her back home with them
Sadly, the person who had taken the now nine-year-old dog to the vets had also taken her back home with them.
‘Getting the information about where she was seemed impossible. None of the agencies could tell me where she was and weren’t allowed to give me any information,’ he said.
In a cruel twist of fate Mr Gardiakos felt like his dog had been stolen a second time, but at least he knew she was alive and being taken care of.
An organisation called Lost in the West, which reunites owners with their pets, got involved with the case and decided to find out where Mia was staying.
An organisation called Lost in the West, which reunites owners with their pets, got involved with the case and decided to find out where Mia was staying (pictured today)
They eventually located the property, and acting on his behalf, brought his long-lost staffy home (pictured)
They eventually located the property, and acting on his behalf, brought his long-lost staffy home.
While initially timid, Mia quickly recognised her surroundings and the man she hadn’t seen in almost a decade.
‘It’s a great feeling to have her back. Missed her for so long,’ Mr Gardiakos said of her miraculous return.
‘I think she recognised me. She seemed to know where home was.’
He plans on making sure the back fence is in good condition now that Mia is around again.