A family has been re-united with their beloved pet a whole year after she went missing.

KentOnline reported last January that the French bulldog, Winnie, had disappeared from her home in Longley Road, Rainham on the 3rd of the month.

The family being re-united with Winnie after more than a year

Owner, Henry Griggs and his girlfriend Alex Marshall believed their then six-month-old pet had been stolen from their back garden.

And now after a year of searching and appeals Winnie has been found.

Henry said: "It is just amazing, we are one of the lucky ones. It has been a rollercoaster. We just cannot believe it after a year and two weeks.

"We are over the moon. Our children did not understand what had happened when she disappeared and it was one of the worst things about it. It was heartbreaking.

"We never gave up hope. You can tell she remembers us. She started responding to Winnie immediately. The boys are ecstatic."

The bulldog had been found in Canterbury after he was given to an elderly man by a group of youngsters who asked him to keep an eye on him around six months ago and never came back.

As he fell ill and went into the hospital, he handed Winnie, who had been re-named Buster, into the RSPCA who passed on to the Lord Whisky Animal Sanctuary at Stelling Minnis for care.

They found her micro-chip which is when it was discovered she was a stolen dog and the charity was then eventually able to re-unite the now 18-month-old with her former family.

Family friend, Heidi Marie Grant, who launched the Facebook group "Stolen Winnie ME8", added: "I am ecstatic right now. I have cried so may happy tears today. We have waited over a year for this moment.

"Alex, Henry and I thank you for all of the help, the shares and prayers for Winnie, you have all been amazing.

"I believe staying positive and praying for the best outcome helped bring Winnie back home. What an amazing start to the year."