Joshua Edwards, separated from his dog Duke for seven years, was able to reunite with his pet. It's something he never imagined would happen. (Source: CBS4)

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MIAMI (CBSMiami) — A man, separated from his dog for seven years, reunited with his pet. It’s something he never imagined would happen.

“We are going to have a good time. He is going home. He is going to be pampered,” said the owner of the dog, Joshua Edwards.

In 2007, he said his Rottweiler puppy Duke disappeared from their Shenandoah home. Edwards searched for Duke for 6 months but believed someone may have stolen the pup.

“It is hard. I gave up. I never thought ..Statically speaking, after six months the chances of you seeing the dog ever again is almost insignificant,” said Edwards.

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For years Edward felt that loss, still thinking of Duke every day. The pain even led Edwards to a new calling as a dog trainer.

“This was the dog that sparked my life as it is now. I became a dog trainer just to show people that you don’t have to lose your dog. If you put a little work into them and they can stay with you,” said Edwards.

Then seven years after Duke went missing, Maria Elena Cartaya, a local teacher, spotted the dog wandering the streets on SW 137th Avenue.

“The Rottweiler is standing on the sidewalk, just standing there. Another gentleman and I stopped. He is calling animal rescue and I am opening my back door and saying lets come on and he got in my car,” said Cartaya.

Cartaya took the dog to the Tamiami Animal Hospital, where they checked him for a microchip. It linked Duke back to Edwards and then came the phone call and reunion that changed both of their lives again.

“I am glad to have my dog home. He is a part of my family. It is hard because not everybody understands but the people that do get that know exactly what I am talking about,” said Edwards.