Owners Find Lost Dog While Buying A Sofa

Joyful Josie Hirst was amazingly reunited with her lost dog - when a couple came to buy her three-piece suite.

Mongrel Patch turned up on the doorstep of Carl and Margaret Olsson,20 miles from Josie's home after following a postman.

They took in the four-year-old pooch - and by incredible coincidence named him Patch too!

Seven weeks passed as distressed Josie,49,contacted kennels and vets in the area looking for her pet, but all in vain.

Then Carl and Margaret answered a local newspaper ad placed by Josie,selling her ten-year-old furniture for £75.

They turned up at Josie's home to inspect the suite and mentioned they had found a stray dog.

Josie showed the couple pictures of Patch - and realised it was the same dog!

So Josie and lorry driver husband Ray,50, immediately drove to the Olssons' home.

Josie says "When we opened the door, Patch just bounded out at us and nearly knocked us over.I just burst into tears because I thought I'd never see him again."

Carl says: "It was very emotional, we grew to love Patch and it was hard saying goodbye."

In the end,the couple did not buy Josie's three-piece suite - but Josie doesn't mind because she'd got Patch back.

She chuckled "Now,each morning when the post arrives,Patch whimpers at the door.But I'm not letting him out of my sight!

"We were unbelievably lucky to get Patch back in the way that we did.The odds must have been a million-to-one.