Thames, a New Zealand police dog, was on a search and rescue mission on the tops of the Tararua Ranges when he went missing in May 2015. His handler didn’t give up the search for his dog. Happily, Thames was found after being gone for seven nights! His handler, Constable Mike Wakefield and John McCann, a volunteer searcher found him.

They had seen Thames in the bush just before a clearing – when Wakefield whistled, Thames ran off, but quickly turned back and gave Wakefield a happy lick in the face! Thames was a little thin in his haunches after only eating what he could forage, but he looked better than they expected. Watch the happy reunion below!

Take a look!