A labrador-alsatian cross was found whimpering in the snow in Castelveccana near Varese, in the Italian Alps, by alpine rescue teams who had almost given up the search. Teams had been searching for ten days in temperatures as low as -10C (14 F). On their last attempt they found the dog. Named Lucky by the team who found him, the dog is expected to fully recover from hypothermia.

Mountain rescue teams traversed dangerous snow-covered ravines and woods after walkers reported hearing a dog whimpering. The area is very secluded and dense with undergrowth and crevices and gullies everywhere.

The dog was discovered by a forestry worker in a secluded wood. Forestry worker Massimo Gianoli, who found Lucky, described the dramatic moment and said: "I could hear a dog whining and whimpering for help but it took me ages to actually find him as he was half covered with snow."

"I followed the sound of the whimpering and then I saw his dark coat poking out from the snow - he had actually been very clever and found a little bit of shelter by some rocks. I gave him an energy bar and he quickly ate it and then I activated my GPS which allowed the other teams to find me." After Lucky wolfed down the energy bar rescuers wound their way down the snow-filled mountainside with him. "I'm delighted to have found him and after he ate the energy bar he was wagging his tail in appreciation."

The dog is recuperating at a vet centre after his ordeal. Officials believe the dog was abandoned and cannot find his microchip, which is compulsory for all dogs in Italy.

"I would love to adopt him but I have two dogs already and I know they have had dozens of calls from people who want to do the same," said Gianoli. As news of Lucky's amazing rescue spread, Varese was bombarded with dozens of calls from dog lovers who wanted to adopt him and officials will now see if a suitable home can be found.

• dog rescue
• mountain
• Italy