This is the heartwarming moment a golden retriever was reunited with his owner after spending a year lost in the woods and far from home. The dog, called Walter, was reunited with his owner Kate Olson in St Louis, Missouri, on Friday night – with both Kate and Walter clearly pleased to see one another.

Kate said afterwards: ‘He has been such a little love. He is the same sweet boy he was before and maybe even sweeter because he has missed getting loved on!’

Her lengthy separation from Walter began in November 2019, when Kate traveled from her home in New Hampshire to Arnold, a suburb of St Louis, to see relatives for Thanksgiving.

Kate brought Walter along with her, but he managed to slip off his collar while outside one day, and ran off. His owner was so bereft she spent weeks in Missouri trying to find Walter, but ultimately had to return home to New England.

But Kate was determined not to give up on Walter, and set up a ‘Where’s Walter?’ Facebook page to spread the word about her lost pet. She also contacted local animal rescue groups to ask them to keep an eye out for any strays matching Walter’s description.

Walter was found around 10 miles north of where he was last seen, in northern St Louis. Local rescue group Lost Paws Trapping heard reports that Walter was in their area from a local man called John Flangenbach who had been feeding him.

They set up a trap with food and water to entice the hungry dog.

Kate was informed of the sighting, and immediately got on a plane to Belleville. She arrived around an hour-and-a-half before Walter walked into the trap, and was able to be reunited with her dog moments later.

Walter is now back home with Kate, who is delighted to have her beloved pet home.

She shared a snap of Walter enjoying his dog bed, and said: ‘Walters first night, in almost a year, sleeping in a big comfy bed with his mama! And he is relearning how to play with toys!’

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