A Scots couple who spent a week camped out in woods during an 11-day search for their missing dog have been reunited with their beloved pet.
Four-year-old beagle Millie escaped from her garden after being spooked by a firework in Peterhead on November 5.
Distraught owners Jon Mitchell, 41, and Johnathan Stephen, 27, spent days desperately hunting for her following her disappearance and decided to sleep in a borrowed campervan in the Blackhills after several sightings of her in the area.
Finally on Wednesday, November 16, Jon found Millie in a nearby field after using sophisticated technology also loaned to the couple.
Jon told the Record: "It's been a really difficult two weeks. We've basically been living in a campervan, generously given to us by Coast to Coast Campers. We've used a lot of resources, such as heat sensors and drones.
"We also had our Golden Retriever, Hunter, with us. We were cooking BBQs, hoping we could tempt Millie with the smell. But days passed and I felt despondent. I had started to think I'd have to get used to the fact she was gone.
"When we finally found her we hadn't seen her for weeks, so it was a very emotional reunion. She's a little bit on the thin side, but she actually seems to be ok."
Jon is now backing calls to ban the sale of fireworks in Scotland after the explosive that frightened Millie was set off before the 6pm curfew.
He added: "Our dog sitter said they would let the dogs out into the garden at 5pm before the 6pm firework curfew started. But a firework went off somewhere in the street and it's just totally spooked Millie. She found a tiny gap in the fence and just ran off.
"I will never buy a firework again because of the distress they've caused. I wish they'd ban the sale of them."
But despite their ordeal, Jon, Johnathan - and Hunter - are just delighted to have Millie back. Jon said: "She's been cuddling into Hunter ever since she got back, so I think they're happy to be back together again."
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