News, views and top stories in your inbox. Don't miss our must-read newsletter Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

A family who thought they had lost their dog during Hurricane Sandy have been reunited with their pet.

Having given up hope of ever finding terrier-pitbull Reckless, Chuck and Elicia James went to their local animal shelter to get a new dog for their daughter's 10th birthday.

Staff at Monmouth County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals introduced them to a dog called Lucas.

He looked just like their dog who had run away 18 months ago when a fence at their home in Keansburg, New Jersey, was flattened.

James told CNN: "He jumped three feet into the air. He immediately recognised us. And then the tears came. There wasn't a dry eye in the place."

On the charity's website, it says: "Lucas came to the Monmouth County SPCA in November and had been waiting for his forever family. Volunteers have even said he seemed like he was looking for someone. Now we know Lucas (who’s real name is Reckless) was searching for his family!"

Jerry Rosenthal, president of the charity, said that Reckless was found in the street like so many other animals following Hurricane Sandy.

He added: "We love happy endings. I always tell people our goal is to prevent animals from coming into the shelter except when we can get them back to their original owners."

Reckless is now living with his family in a hotel as they wait to be rehomed following the storm and he has been microchipped so that they can be reunited if he goes missing again.