URUMQI, CHINA — In a story that could have ended in tragedy, it was a miracle that helped a marathoner reunite with his lost dog in a city of more than 3 million people.

Dion Leonard was running a marathon in the Gobi Desert in March when a little brown pup sidled up to him, according to an article written by race organizers. For the entire 250-kilometer run across difficult terrain, the dog kept up with him and never left.

Leonard called the pup Gobi, and decided to bring her home to Edinburgh with him.

While leaving China and entrusting Gobi with a friend after the race, he began the long and expensive process of taking her home, creating a crowdfunding page to help raise money.

But on Aug. 6, while waiting to be transferred to Beijing for the quarantine process, Gobi went missing.

Leonard flew in from Edinburgh and looked for Gobi all over Urumqi, but for days he failed to find a solid lead. Finally, a man called in to say he had seen posters of Gobi and found a dog at the park matching her exact description.

When Leonard arrived at the man’s house, Gobi ran out and jumped all over him.

Netizens in China and abroad were quick to offer well-wishes for the newly reunited couple, with additional calls for airlines to fly the duo home, reports the BBC.