A chihuahua-cross who had been missing for more than seven weeks has been found safe and well more than eight miles away in the next town thanks to a tracker dog.

Two-and-a-half year-old Coco went missing from his home in Great Mongeham, on Thursday, June 8.

He was discovered in an allotment in Dover on Sunday, July 30.

His owner Zoe Doughty said they employed the use of a Beagle who sniffed out his scent after she’d been tipped off that he may be in Dover.

She said: “We’ve been out looking for him everyday and then we got a phone call from a lady saying she’d seen him in Dover.

“We’d been using a Beagle tracker dog who came along, who managed to sniff him out.

“He was really tired and skinny but he’s doing okay.”

During the seven weeks, the hound was seen on numerous occasions around the district and even crossed the A258 but Miss Doughty had been unable to catch him.

She said: “He’d covered some miles. He’d travelled from Deal to Sandwich then back to Deal and finally over to Dover.

“He was really hungry so we gave him some treats. It’s fantastic to have him back.”

She has thanked residents for their help.

She added: “The whole of Deal clubbed together on Facebook and with posters to help find Coco, so thank you.”