If you've ever had a pet go missing, you will know that it is a genuinely painful experience. Not knowing what happened to your little pal - or if they're OK - is stressful.
One man had completely given up hope when his Labrador Buster disappeared from his mum's back garden back in 2010. He set up a Facebook appeal and received a message from his now fiancee Samantha - the pair have two kids together. And then, miraculously, this week Rob Smith, 39, got the call that he never thought he'd get.
A local vets had been handed a stray that was roaming the streets, they scanned him and immediately got Rob's number. Rob raced round after he finished work and was finally reunited with his mate.
Advert
Buster was only a few months old when he got lost. Rob was inundated with messages from well-wishers offering to help, and little did he know at the time, one of them would turn out to become his future wife.
The pair quickly realised they had a romantic connection and are now engaged with two daughters together, Louise, seven, and Mia Grace, one.
Rob, who is a sales manager, said: "Losing Buster was horrific but the heartbreak was eased when I met Sam online. Little did I know that we'd end up spending the next nine years together and we'd have our two daughters together.
"As the months and years passed I did give up on ever finding Buster.
Advert
"I received the shock of my life when a vets about 10 miles away rang me while I was at work last weekend.
"A member of the public had seen him roaming around the streets and fortunately took him in to the vets where they scanned him for his tag and got my details.
"I raced around to the vet's after work and I just burst into tears.
"It was very emotional seeing him again."
Rob actually turned down Sam's help to start with, because he had so many people on the case.
Advert
Rob explained: "Sam noticed that my dog had gone missing she asked if I needed help to find him - but funnily enough I declined her offer as I already had a lot of people helping me.
"After a few weeks she messaged me to if you need a chat sometime I'm there for you and then ended up exchanging numbers - and the rest was history.
"I still tell people now that if Buster hadn't have gone missing I'd have never met her.
"Our last nine years together have been amazing and Sam really is one in a million - it's an added bonus I have my two lovely daughters too."
Since his reunion with Buster, Rob has brought his four legged friend home to meet his family and their new dog, Bruno.
Advert
He added: "It's so surreal seeing them both together as I, of course, never thought they would meet.
"Having Buster back really is amazing - I can't believe I got my best friend back after all this time."
Don't you just love a happy ending.
Featured Image Credit: Caters