A HEARTBROKEN pet owner has been reunited with her dog after it was stolen 175 miles away.

Kate Kershaw, 35, went through the traumatic experience of losing her four-year-old dog in Kent, in January 2017.

She and her family, who live in London, had been preparing to go on a walk when they heard a car door slam and they knew something wasn't right.

But 18 months later, after a dedicated search and thousands of social media shares, the doting dog-owner was reunited with her beloved golden cocker spaniel Fifi at St Giles Rescue Centre after being found on the A30 near Chard.

Kate made the drive across to Somerset to see if the dog was her Fifi, who she said is like her 'first born child'.

Anxious Kate was reunited with the dog with the help from Vanessa Linnell and the rest of the team from the Wrantage-based rescue centre.

"If it wasn't her, I just thought it's only been 18-months, so we wouldn't give up yet," said Kate.

"We've been through it so many times before, I would get sent around four photos a day but I knew none of them were Fifi. We drove for nine hours once but it wasn't her.

"This time definitely felt different. But I wasn't sure if it was her at first because her personality wasn't coming through to me. She looked identical but she wasn't herself.

"I had to remember that we have no idea what she's been through, and after a bit of time I knew it was definitely her."

Fifi is unusual as she never came into season, didn't have developed nipples and is also very smaller.

Theories from Kate suggest the beautiful dog was stolen for breeding, but thieves would have been out of luck with Fifi.

When arriving at the centre, Fifi was underweight and had a mouth infection. It is believed Fifi was microchipped as a puppy but could have been removed. The team think by the state of her claws she had been walking for a while or was being left on concrete.

Somerset County Gazette:

REUNITED: Vanessa Linnell with Kate Kershaw and Fifi

Mrs Linnell and her team put in the hours to reunite the lost dog with its owner.

She said: "Whenever we find a lost dog, we always search through Facebook to see if anyone has posted. There wasn't any from the area but there were details that matched Kate's dog, so we had a strong feeling but, of course, you can never be sure."

The exact circumstances of where Fifi has been will likely stay a mystery, as she was found roaming the streets near Chard.

Elliott Brown, 31, and partner Kelli Martin found the dog on Friday (July 13) at around 7pm on their way home from Chard Reservoir.

"We were heading towards Honiton where we live but we spotted something in the road," He said.

"I asked Kelli to pull over because I could see something was coming towards us. Cars are going up and down that road constantly so I knew I had to help.

"The dog freaked out and ran into the field next to the road, I followed her in but she bolted again - she was very frightened.

"I walked around her and she was just looking at me, she was either going to bolt again or just give up.

"When I got to her she just collapsed."

The pair drove around the area looking for anyone who could have been her owner, but ended up taking her home for some TLC before taking her to the vets in the morning.

He added: "Carrying her was like a dead dog - she'd given up. But she looks at you and you know someone's home.

"We got her home and she drank three pints of water without stopping and we gave her some food, she was just licking it like she wasn't too sure.

"Eventually she was wagging her tail and wanted cuddles.

"Kelli and I just did what anyone would have done, it's incredible to think her owners are from all the way in Kent."