It’s a mystery how Mimi the dog was able to survive on her own after she was missing for 10 years, but she's a very lucky dog as she was finally reunited with her owner.

“I was in initial shock, when it all settled in, I just broke down in tears. I felt so bad, I felt the urgency of needing to go get her,” said her owner Deidre Kailer.

Mimi’s journey is a long one.

“Ten years is the longest span we’ve ever come across somebody having a dog that’s been missing that long,” said Veterinarian Melissa Drain.

The road back home to her owner in Georgia starts in Phelps County.

“A client of ours had been out in the country and had spotted a dog wandering around and when he pulled over, he was able to coax her into the car,” said Drain.

She was then taken to the North Park Animal Hospital in Holdrege and was checked for a chip.

“We looked up her ID number and found there was a tag registered several years ago,” said Drain.

But the information was out of date, until Jan Knuth with the Holdrege Animal Rescue went online to investigate after recognizing the name on the chip.

“I put it all together and went on Facebook and started stalking,” said Knuth.

She then spoke to Kailer on the phone, asking if Mimi was hers.

“She was crying so hard that we had to stop, because I had completely overwhelmed her. She definitely wanted Mimi back,” said Knuth.

Knuth then started thinking of ways to get Mimi home, the journey nearly 500 miles long. After much thought, she recruited her husband.

“I just kind of casually said to Steve, 'gosh this dog could really use a ride,'” said Knuth.

From there, they made a plan to meet with Kailer and get her back where she belongs.

“Steve drove to Columbia, Mo., while the owner drove up from Columbus, Ga. to Columbia, Mo., so they met almost halfway,” said Knuth.

And though Mimi’s eyesight and smell wasn’t like it used to be, Kailer said she remembered them.

“When she saw my son when we got home, she definitely remembered him,” said Kailer.

Kailer said it feels good to have her sweet dog back in her life after so many years apart.

“I feel more at peace, just knowing she’s going to be able to live her final years with us,” said Kailer.