A BOY was reunited with his beloved pet dog after seeing an appeal in The Northern Echo.

Nine-year-old Lewis Bowmer from Newton Aycliffe was heartbroken when Staffordshire bull terrier Dev jumped the garden fence at his home and ran off into the night.

Lewis, his grandparents and mother Suzanne combed the streets looking for the adventurous pup after it escaped on the Friday between Christmas and New Year.

Miss Bowmer said she did not call the police to report the dog missing because he was micro-chipped. She said: "I thought if the police had found him they would have brought him back because he was chipped."

But although Dev had been micro-chipped the pup had not been registered and police were unable to trace his owner.

He was taken to Wilson's Veterinary Surgery, in Tenter Street, Bishop Auckland which asked The Northern Echo to help reunite Dev with his rightful owners.

It was Miss Bowmer's grandmother who recognised the picture of the dog when it appeared in the paper on New Year's Eve and she immediately alerted her grandaughter.

Miss Bowmer said: "As soon as we saw it we knew it was Dev. We have only had him eight months and I bought him for Lewis.

"I would like to thank the vets for looking after him and also the person who found him. We are glad to have him back."

Miss Bowmer is now planning to have Dev re-chipped and registered properly.

Vet Sam Goldberg, from Wilson's surgery, said: "It's great for us to know that he has been reunited with his owner. It was so sad to see him just sitting there."

German shepherd Sabre featured in the same story as Dev, and is still patiently waiting for his owner to get in touch.

Sabre was also micro-chipped but his owners have moved from their previous address in Chester-le-Street.

He was found wandering in Bishop Auckland and it is believed he may have been involved in a road traffic accident.

Anyone who may be able help to find Sabre's owners is asked to call Wilson's Veterinary Surgery on (01388) 602707.