THE owner of a dog that was returned to her after going missing more than two years ago, says the 'amazing' reunion is proof positive of the benefits of microchipping pets.

Christine Robinson, said the dog, 'Sam', disappeared from their Bere Alston farm in November 2007 and as the months passed, she gave up hope of ever seeing him again.

She said: 'He was taken from outside the farm and was gone just a few minutes after he had left my side. He's such a friendly dog that if someone had driven along and opened their door he'd be straight in the car.'

Christine embarked on a widespread search for Sam — she advertised in the Times, leafletted the area, searched high and low, and phoned many vets.

'The whole community helped in the search — horse riders riding the woods, dog walkers, the public on foot, and postmen and women being vigilant with new dogs in houses and gardens.'

Sam was a Sprocker — a springer-cross-cocker — and being a gundog he did not have a collar, but he had been microchipped.

And more than two and a half years after he disappeared, Sam, now five years old, was found wandering on the side of a road in an area of North Devon. Nobody locally recognised Sam and when a dog warden was contacted, the vital microchip meant he was returned to his rightful owners.

Christine said: 'When we picked him up it was like something out of that Cilla Black television programme, "Surprise, Surprise".

'On the way home, I kept calling him Sam and within half an hour his tail was wagging and when we pulled into the the farm he leapt out and went crazy when he recognised where he was.'

Sam, who had not been reported missing by whoever had him after he disappeared from the farm, had lost most of his gundog instincts.

He had always slept in the bottom of a wardrobe in a barn on the farm and soon found his way back to his favourite resting place. And next day, he joined the farm's five other dogs to eat and took up the exact same spot he had always used.

Christine said: 'This emphasises just how important it it to get your pet microchipped — the law should be changed to make it compulsory.

'My husband, Ray, always thought Sam would come back to us. But I'd given up hope and believed he must be dead, but the fact he was microchipped has meant he has come home at last.'

June is National Microchipping Month and the campaign will encourage and promote responsible pet ownership through microchipping as the preferred method of permanent pet identification.

The Kennel Club says: 'Having a pet stolen or go missing is a heart-wrenching experience for any owner. But by having their pets microchipped, owners can ensure that if their missing pets are found they will be returned to them.

'Deciding to have a pet is an important decision and one that results in a commitment to that pet for its entire life. Part of being a responsible pet owner is identifying your dog permanently, for example by microchipping.'

Pet owners can contact their local vet for more information about microchipping.