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A delighted dog owner has been reunited with her pet two years after he went missing.

Rachel Witts was devastated when Bichon Frise Alfie went missing from her garden at their home in March 2014.

The 42-year-old and her then 13-year-old son, Elliott launched an appeal that would stretch over two years in a bid to find him.

Last week, Rachel received the happy news that the family had been hoping for — Alfie had been found and taken to a vet's nearby.

"Alfie went missing from the garden in 2014 and we've spent all our time since searching for him," said Rachel.

"We looked everywhere for him and we never gave up.

"I had been getting phone calls since he went missing saying that it might be him, but it never was, which was difficult. So when I got the call from the vet's in Llangyfelach, I didn't have much hope.

"I saw the Swansea code number and answered and they said a dog had been found who was chipped and the details were for us. I couldn't speak and my heart was pounding.

"I was in work at the time so my boss who is also my best friend had to speak to them. We both had tears streaming down our faces — we knew it was Alfie. I went to collect him and I was over the moon to see him. I took him straight home and we're just so happy he is back."

Alfie's return also means that he is able to meet his two puppies that were born in the Cwmavon house while he was missing.

"Just before he went missing, we mated Alfie with a friend's dog that gave birth while he was missing," she said.

"I had intended to just have one of them, but a pair were born together and I knew I couldn't separate them. I named them Alfie Jr and Lily and it's just lovely that they are now able to meet their dad.

"We're just so glad to have him home. It really is a happy ending to this story."