A man breaks down in tears as strangers come to the rescue, saving his missing dog from a fox hole.

Alan Whitton, 49, was overwhelmed with emotion as he held his beloved Jack Russell, Mitzi, in his arms after three days apart. Their heartwarming reunion, filled with tears and joy, quickly spread across the internet, touching thousands.

It all began in Knighton Forest, Essex, where Alan was walking Mitzi when a Basset Hound suddenly gave chase. Startled, Mitzi bolted into the woods and disappeared. Despite hours of searching, Alan lost sight of her. Distraught, he returned with his wife and children, and the family spent the next two days combing the forest, putting up posters, and posting online in the hopes someone might spot her.

But as the days passed with no sign, Alan’s hope began to fade.

Then, on the third day, a glimmer of hope came in the form of a phone call. A woman who had seen Alan’s missing dog posts was walking her dog in the same forest when her dog started sniffing around a fox hole — something he never usually did. Thinking it might be important, she contacted Alan right away.

Without hesitation, Alan dropped everything and raced to the spot. When he arrived, he called out and squeaked one of Mitzi’s favorite toys near the hole. To his amazement, he heard a faint whine in return. Reaching into the burrow, he gently pulled out a trembling but very much alive Mitzi, who immediately leapt into his arms.

Overcome with emotion, Alan hugged her tightly and burst into tears. The incredible moment was caught on camera by others who had come to help in the search. He later shared the emotional reunion on Facebook, and the footage quickly went viral.

Miraculously, Mitzi was mostly unharmed — a few ticks, which were easily treated by a vet. Alan explained that Mitzi held a special place in his heart; he had adopted her shortly after the death of his previous dog. Losing her had felt like losing a part of his healing.

Now, he plans to get Mitzi a GPS collar to ensure he never loses her again.

What started as a nightmare ended in what many have called a small Christmas miracle — and a beautiful reminder of the deep bond between humans and their pets.