Lost dog turns up five months later - but may now be homeless

A pet dog has been reunited with his family four months after he disappeared, but could now be looking for a new home because his family have a new puppy.

The Haurua family had given up hope of seeing 2-year-old rottweiler Levi after he vanished from his Ponsonby home last November.

Repeka Haurua said the family were "beside themselves" when Levi went missing so they bought a black labrador puppy called Missy to cheer up the four children.

But last week Levi was picked up by an animal control officer in Papakura. He had lost his collar during his travels and was identified by a scan of his microchip.

Ms Haurua said the family had mixed feelings about Levi's return.

"The twins [her 12-year-old sons] are over the moon, but it's been so long that we ended up getting Missy to replace him.

"We're discussing whether to give Levi away because the reality of having two dogs in Ponsonby is too much."

It is not known how Levi managed to travel so far but the family suspect someone picked him up.

He was found in a residential street and had lost a lot of weight.

Auckland City Council spokeswoman Jackie Wilkinson said if Levi had not been microchipped "he might have been gone forever".

Microchipping legislation was introduced on July 1 last year. Dogs registered before that date do not need to be microchipped unless they are classified as dangerous or are unregistered and have been impounded. Working farm dogs are also exempt.

Ms Wilkinson said the simple procedure helped the council enforce animal control by returning lost dogs and keeping track of aggressive animals.