A family who thought they'd never see their dog again after it was stolen in September have been reunited with him, after they saw an RSPCA appeal about him on KentOnline.

The starving lurcher, Reuben, had been dumped in Church Road, Hartley, on Sunday, weighing half his normal body weight. He was so thin his bones had broken through his skin.

But after Doglost spotted the story on our website and alerted the family, from a village near Maidstone, they were reunited.

Reuben had been taken to the RSPCA centre in Leybourne. Centre manager Christine Dooley said: "It was a very happy reunion. They never thought they were going to see him again so they were just delighted. They have a young family, so they are all very happy."

"It was a surprising ending to such a sad story, but if it hadn't been for the KM's website, it would never have happened."

Reuben was taken home yesterday evening.