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A family dog who was buried after his owners thought he was dead managed to dig himself out of his grave and make his way home.

Dik, 18, was discovered motionless on his blanket at his home in the Russian village of Novonikolsk.

His heartbroken owners, two elderly sisters, were unable to wake him up and due to his age, assumed he was dead.

They then gathered together to give him a funeral at a pet ceremony in the village, which is in Russia's far eastern Primorsky Krai region, the Mail Online reports.

(Image: IRINA MUDROVA)

(Image: IRINA MUDROVA)

But he woke up shortly after being buried and managed to claw his way out of his shallow grave and run to safety.

He ended up at the side of a nearby motorway where passers-by spotted the exhausted dog.

They scooped him up and took him to Otkroi Svoe Serdtse (Open Your Heart) pet shelter.

Dik's owners spotted the pictures and came to the pet shelter to take him home.

Irina Mudrova, who is head of the shelter, said: "Fortunately, they buried him not deep underground and he managed to get to the surface after regaining consciousness.

"His owners, two elderly sisters, came to take him home and cried."

He has now been reunited with his relieved family.

But the story has caused some talk in the village, with some referring to Pet Sematary, a horror movie and film by Stephen King where buried pets return to life.

(Image: IRINA MUDROVA)

Social media user 'Kasyanenko Anastassiya' said: 'I wonder, have Dik's owners read Pet Sematary? Are they afraid for their lives?'

And 'Kresla_125rus' said: 'I am crying because I am happy for Dik! He has such loving owners!'

While 'Venya_1603' commented: 'Once I almost buried my cat alive. I thought she died and started panicking. Luckily, she woke up before I buried her.'