Ruby the dog, who survived for 12 days lost in a North Yorkshire forest, is back home with her thankful owners, but she has had to have her leg amputated.

Pauline Kavanagh said she was devastated after vets had no choice but to amputate Ruby’s leg, however the nine-month-old puppy is now back home with them in Richmond and making a slow recovery.

A huge search was launched for Labrador Ruby after she went missing while out walking in Stang Forest above Richmond. Day after day dozens of people including Pauline and her husband scoured the area searching for her with the Swaledale Mountain Rescue Team even joining in.

Darlington and Stockton Times: Ruby is making a slow recovery after having her leg amputated

After 12 days she was found by a dog lover from Leeds who had travelled to the area specially to join the hunt. The puppy was very weak and had a badly injured leg which had become bound up in wire. After emergency treatment at Swaledale Vets the beloved pet is recovering.

Pauline said: “She’s eating a bit more food everyday as the vet has carefully calculated how much we can give her. Because she hadn’t eaten for 12 days we have to be careful. But she is wagging her tail a lot and she is walking on three legs.

Read more: Lost dog Ruby found after 12 days in Stang Forest

“Her front left leg had to be amputated, we got her home on Saturday. Now she follows me around everywhere, bless her.

Darlington and Stockton Times: Ruby had her leg amputated after being lost for 12 days

“I still can’t believe so many people have followed Ruby’s story. She is going to survive and I just know she will be running in a few weeks, she’s still very thin but hopefully will start to put on weight soon.

“I can’t thank people enough for the help and support they have given us, it really made us carry on believing that Ruby would be found. It is astonishing that she managed to survive for 12 days alone in the forest.”