THE story of a dog missing from Flintshire had a 'ruff' start but a happy ending, as she was found four days after her disappearance.

Val, a 5-year-old Toy Poodle, went missing from the Connah's Quay area on Wednesday, October 20.

What followed next was, according to Alyson Todd - whose dad John Hughes is Val's owner - a 'phenomenal' amount of support in helping bring the pooch home.

Posts regarding the missing dog went viral, being shared on Facebook approximately 6,000 times.

Alyson, who is a care worker, said: "We have been blown away by the support shown by this community and people on social media too.

"I had people stop me in the street to say they were looking for Val and they've been out in their hundreds to help us find her.

"I even had a lady from Scotland contact me to say she was helping in any way she could. The response to her going missing has been phenomenal and helped us find her eventually."

Val was eventually found by Alyson's husband Steve, on Saturday October 23 - not far from where she had gone missing but a full four days later.

She was then re-united with her 71-year-old owner John.

Alyson said: "My dad had Val a year ago - she's a rescue. Even now, people here are still talking about her and want to send gifts and meet her. It's crazy but shows just how amazing the community spirit here is in Connah's Quay.

"Everything seems to be all doom and gloom in the world these days, so it's nice to have a happy ending like this one and see the community come together in this way. We as a family would like to say a big thanks to those who helped us."

Alyson says she does not know what Val got up to during her four days of having gone missing, but added that she had 'been to the vets and is doing fine'.