THIS is the tear-jerking moment a poor pooch was reunited with his owner after being found more than 100 miles away from his home – six months after he disappeared without trace.

One-year-old whippet Jasper was brought into Heath Veterinary Clinic in Hurstpierpoint on March 12 after being found by concerned local Wendy Jones.

Details of Jasper’s incredible journey soon unravelled, including when he was found chained to a vehicle in a caravan park by Hurstpierpoint resident Natasha Carr in October after having been stolen from his home in Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire.

Concerned by his malnourished appearance, she bought the dog from who she thought was the rightful owner and took him home straight away.

It was only when Jasper went missing for a second time and he was found again and taken to the vets that his real owner could be traced.

On arrival to the clinic, vet Rhian-Mai Jones scanned the dog for a microchip and found the details of his owner, Michael Ford, who last saw Jasper in September and was confined to never seeing him again.

Mr Ford said: “We honestly thought that we’d never see Jasper again and cannot thank Wendy, Natasha and Heath Vets enough. We thought he had been stolen but had no proof, now we know the truth.”

On learning that Jasper had been stolen from Michael and his family, Natasha Carr said goodbye to Jasper and handed him back to his original family.

She said: “He looked so neglected I had to do something and immediately took him home, it never occurred to me he may have been stolen.

“It was an emotional farewell.”

In April 2016 it will be a legal requirement for all dogs in England to be microchipped. Through local veterinary practices, Dogs Trust, including the branch in Shoreham, are currently helping to offer free microchipping across the country.

Emily Chadburn, senior veterinary surgeon at Heath Vets, said: “Microchipping is extremely important.

“Jasper was lucky but there are hundreds of lost, stolen and abandoned dogs across the UK that, without microchipping, cannot be identified and returned home safely.

"At Heath Vets we speak daily to pet owners about the importance of ensuring their pets are microchipped and in conjunction with Dogs Trust we are able to offer this service to dogs completely free of charge.

"We have also extended the free service to cats too.”

For further information about microchipping visit www.chipmydog.org.uk