A Brisbane dog that went missing from its owners nine years ago has been found alive - in Melbourne.

RSPCA Victoria officers rescued the badly-neglected pooch from a backyard in the southern capital while investigating a possible animal cruelty case last week.



Heading home ... Muffy with inspector Gail Coulter.

To their amazement, they discovered the dog was microchipped and were able to track down her original owners.

Muffy, as she is called, vanished from the home of her Brisbane owner Chloe Rushby, 17, nine years ago. They will be reunited in Brisbane next week.