Ms Biddle yesterday described the return of Crystal after a five-week absence as a miracle.

Crystal ran away from her Cobden home on New Year’s Eve after she was spooked by fireworks.

Ms Biddle said last week she got a call from a Cobden man whose children had found the dog in their paddock.

“When she turned up I cried so much,” she said.

“I was actually in shock.

“When she took off part of me left. It’s a miracle.”

Ms Biddle said the dog was micro-chipped and registered and had lost more than two kilos during the ordeal. She put up flyers throughout the town in the hope that someone had seen her.

She estimated the dog was found about six kilometres from her home.

“There was no food or water for her,” she said.

“Everyone I’ve told say they can’t believe she survived. I don’t know how she did. She weighs nearly four kilos and she did weigh six. Who knows what she’s been doing?

“I put flyers up all over town and the man’s wife saw the flyer at the doctors.

“I kept searching thinking she might turn up.”

Crystal has been home for about a week and been reunited with Ms Biddle’s other dog Gizmo.

“I’ve had Gizmo for 10 years and Crystal for two,” she said.

“It’s so good to have her home.”