A puppy has miraculously survived after spending a month trapped inside a car. Nobody had noticed the little dog inside the car when it was impounded for being illegally parked in Kansas City.

He was finally found after an employee noticed it jump up on the dashboard as he was marking vehicles for auction.

The dog was taken to the city animal shelter where staff have named it 'Kia'.

The 12-week-old puppy apparently survived by eating rubbish left in the car. The terrier and schnauzer mix did not have access to water.

Reports say the car was towed to the lot in or around April 8th. An employee saw the dog Monday afternoon and called police, who broke into the car.

Local media KCTV reports that Kia went to a foster home on Tuesday afternoon but that it will be some time before she can be adopted.