Dog Swept Away by Flood Returns Home After 10 Days in Guangxi

A Belgian Malinois swept away by floodwaters in southern China has returned home on its own after 10 days, leaving its owner stunned by how badly the dog had deteriorated.

The Belgian Malinois disappeared during flooding in Baise, Guangxi, and had been missing for 10 days before returning home on July 21, The Paper reported.

Its owner, surnamed Lu, had searched for it but eventually gave up hope.

"I thought it was gone," he said, according to Chinese media reports.

Lu had raised the Malinois for three years. But when it came through the door, it was so thin and injured that he could barely recognize it. The dog's ribs were visible, and its body weight had fallen from nearly 25 kilograms to a little over 10 kilograms, reports said.

The dog was covered in wounds and looked exhausted after its 10-day disappearance. Lu said he broke down when he saw it again, and the reunion left both owner and dog in tears.

Video of the return has spread widely online, where viewers focused on the dog's determination to find its way back despite the flood and its injuries.

It remains unclear where the animal spent the 10 days after being swept away or how far it traveled before returning home.

But for Lu, the answer mattered less than the sight of the dog standing at his door again. The family is now caring for the Malinois and helping it recover.