'Dead' dog returns to shocked family four years after mystery disappearance

A family who thought their missing dog was killed by a speeding car have been reunited with their beloved pooch four years later.

Albania Sagarra, from Miami, US, had been in mourning ever since her pet, Sugar, vanished one night in 2021. They assumed the beloved dog had snuck out of their home and launched a frantic hunt to try and find her.

They even advertised a $1000 (£734.88) award, but still had no leads about where she had gone. Things went from bad to worse when they received a phone call from a man who claims he saw a car mow her down. "He said that he witnessed her get run over by a car going about 70 to 80 miles an hour," Albania said.

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Albania says her family suspected that Sugar was dead until a shelter close to their home alerted them that she had been dropped off in June this year. The anonymous person left Sugar at the venue, with the original owners assuming that she was abducted and then neglected.

Her family described the reunion as a "resurrection" and said they will cherish their time with Sugar. Albania told WFTV: “I looked at her and I couldn’t even believe it was her, because for four years we thought she was dead. I'm just very happy and soaking up every moment with Sugar because this is like a resurrection I would have never imagined."

Sadly, Sugar returned with a string of health woes and turned up to the shelter underweight and sick. She has since been diagnosed with Stage 4 heart disease and a string of other problems.

Albania added: "She has stage 4 heart disease and stage 4 kidney disease, along with a million other thing. She's back where she belongs, and I'm happy that, at least the remainder of her days, she'll be with her family."