The story of a determined Maltese cross named Einstein has captured hearts after he made a miraculous return following a surprising adventure. This resilient pooch, who went missing during a holiday with his owners, Jeff and Sue Johns, has been found alive and is now recuperating at a veterinary clinic in Tea Tree Gully.

Einstein’s unexpected journey began on September 18, when he slipped away during a family vacation in Queensland. The curious canine wandered into Anstey Hill Recreation Park near Houghton, located southeast of Adelaide, sparking a frantic search by his worried owners.

“I feared he might have been bitten by a snake or couldn’t survive out there for so long,” Jeff shared with 9News in a Zoom interview, expressing the couple’s growing concern as the days turned into weeks without any sign of their beloved dog.

As the days passed, the hope of finding Einstein seemed to dwindle. However, in a delightful twist of fate, a local family discovered him yesterday afternoon, 53 days after his disappearance. Einstein’s safe return has brought immense relief and joy to his family and those who followed his story.

Then, yesterday afternoon, 53 days after his adventure began, he was found by a local family.

The runaway was rushed to the vet clinic where staff were already aware he was missing.

“We scanned the microchip and then that lined up perfectly with the microchip number of Einstein,” Dr Mark Reeve told 9News.

His body weight had halved over the seven weeks and staff were shocked he’d managed to survive.

“In a lifetime of being a veterinarian I’ve never experienced an animal to go missing and be in the wild for this long and then to be found again,” Reeve said.

It doesn’t quite compare to the story of Sausage Dog Valerie, who survived 529 days on Kangaroo Island but for Jeff and Sue, this moment is still pretty special.

“The first time we see him I’m quite sure Sue is going to pick him up and hug him and cuddle him,” Jeff said.

Einstein still needs some time to recover here in the safe hands of vets but as soon he’s given the all clear, his owners will drive down to Adelaide for what is sure to be an emotional reunion.