THE FAMILY of a dog that went missing in mountanious terrain for five days have thanked the “overwhelming” support that helped bring her safely home.

Cherry, a black Chihuahua Pomeranian cross with a white muzzle and curly tail, was last seen last Wednesday at 6pm on the mountain above Cwmtillery Lakes in Abertillery.

After going missing on walk while chasing sticks, a Facebook page was set up to help find the former rescue dog – attracting nearly 1,500 likes.

As the word spread about the missing pooch, A GoFundMe page raised more than £1,000 towards search efforts including a drone search with a thermal camera.

It was company Resource Group: Unmanned Aviation Services (UAS), working with the RSPCA, Gwent Police and South Wales Fire and Rescue who helped find Cherry bring the five-day ordeal to an end.

A UAS statement, published on Facebook, said that the dog was rescued from an old mining tunnel, with the family being reunited with their pet in Cwmbran.

Tink Slingsby, aged 27, of the Pontypool area, described the response as "overwhelming".

“I work for the RSPCA myself in Newport Animal Centre and I’m a massive animal lover," she said.

“She got back this week and was a little bit bruised and a bit upset from the ordeal but there is no sign of injuries apart from losing a little weight.”

She added: “I just want to say a massive thankyou as we couldn’t have found Cherry without the community and I’m so touched by everyone’s help."

Jasmine Slingsby, aged 32, the daughter of Cherry’s owner, said she “couldn’t believe” that Cherry had been found and it was like “every single Christmas had come at once”.

“I was absolutely overjoyed. Cherry is my dad’s world and without her I didn’t know how he was going to carry on," she said.

“I have never experienced anything like this before but it means so much to us. I can’t even put it into words.

“There was a local gentleman called Adrian Davies and he has been out three times a day looking on the mountain and the Gwent Caving Club have helped”.

She added: “There are a real lack of services in South Wales for finding (missing) dogs and there was no one we could contact as (a service) doesn’t exist.

“Dogs are part of people’s families and if they’re missing it’s the worst feeling in the world”.

Cherry is now on her way to making a full recovery.