Missing dog reunites with owner after eight years

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The universe works in mysterious ways – and one Chinese pet owner can attest to this after a stroke of luck reunited her with her dog, eight years after it went astray.

A clip of their fortuitous get-together, posted online earlier this week, has melted the hearts of Chinese netizens, racking up more than six million views on China's Twitter-equivalent Weibo.

The woman, surnamed Gao, had left her pet dog Dudou in the care of an old lady as she needed to take care of her sick mother. When Gao came back after a year, she found that the senior woman had moved houses, and lost contact with Dudou.

Dudou went missing eight years ago and showed up on December 18 outside her owner's shop. /Screenshot from Kankan News video

Heartbroken and distraught, she tried to look for her furry friend, but hit a dead end.

Years passed by, and Gao resigned to the idea that she has lost Dudou forever, until Tuesday, when a stray dog appeared outside her shop, along with another small companion.

The dog stopped and stared at Gao, as if she recognized her old friend but wasn't quite sure. Gao took a chance and shouted the name "Dudou," and the dog immediately ran towards her.

Gao holds Dudou tightly in her arms after eight years of separation. /Screenshot from Kankan News video

Gao was excited, and held Dudou tightly in her arms as she shed tears of joy.

Surprised and moved by the unexpected reunion, Gao's daughter filmed the heartwarming moment on her phone and uploaded it online.

The video has so far been shared more than 10,000 times on Weibo.

Dudou, aged three months, lies on the bed. /Screenshot from Kankan News video

Gao's daughter told Kankan News that they had moved places during these years and that the shop was only opened two years ago, around six to seven kilometers from their old address.

The daughter said Dudou still kept her old looks, but seemed much older and a bit scruffy.

Gao's daughter suspects the little yellow dog accompanying Dudou might be her offspring. /Screenshot from Kankan News video

"Dudou was very small and cute when she was sent to the old lady's home. What makes me sad is that she looks much older now. And it seems that she had given birth to several puppies. She must have been through a hard time when she wandered around these years," Gao's daughter told Kankan News, adding that the little dog that showed up with Dudou could be one of her offspring.