Japan tsunami dog reunited with owner

A dog rescued from a roof drifting off Japan's north-east coast more than three weeks after a quake and tsunami has been reunited with her owner.

The owner recognised the dog from a TV news report on the rescue on Friday.

The female owner and the two-year-old dog called Ban had an emotional reunion at an animal care centre where she was being looked after.

"We'll never let go of her," the owner, who wished to remain anonymous, was quoted as saying by a centre official.

The dog was found by a Japan Coast Guard crew on a drifting roof some 1.8km (1.1 miles) off Kesennuma, Miyagi prefecture, one of the worst-hit areas along Japan's north-east coast.

The roof is believed to have been detached and washed out to sea by the retreating waters of the devastating tsunami, which hit the country on 11 March.

Ban immediately jumped up and wagged her tail when her owner appeared, local media reported.

"I'm happy for the reunion, after they were separated by the disaster," Toshiro Suzuki, head of the animal shelter was quoted as saying by Kyodo news agency.

He said the shelter is caring for 19 dogs and several cats separated from their owners after the tsunami.

Article from BBC News
Japan tsunami dog reunited with owner
Video posted on Youtube

Heroic Dog won't leave his injured friend in Japan debris

Dogs don't get their loyal rep for nothing.

Amidst the ruins of Japan's earthquake and tsunami, a noble dog refused to leave his hurt friend behind. The pooch's heroism shows that dogs are not just loyal to man, but to their canine pals as well. After the video was shot, the dog's were both taken into care of the local animal shelter.

Here is the translation, provided on YouTube, of the video:

"We are in Arahama area. Looks like there is a dog. There is a dog. He looks tired and dirty. He must have been caught in the tsunami. He looks very dirty. He has a collar. He must be someone's pet. He has a silver collar. He is shaking. He seems very afraid. Oh, there is another dog. I wonder if he is dead. Where? Right there.

"There is another dog right next to the one sitting down. He is not moving. I wonder. I wonder if he is alright. The dog is protecting him. Yes. He is protecting the dog. That is why he did not want us to approach them. He was trying to keep us at bay. I can't watch this. This is a very difficult to watch. Oh. Look. He is moving. He is alive. I am so happy to see that he is alive. Yes! Yes! He is alive. He looks to be weakened. We need to them to be rescued soon. We really want them rescued soon. Oh good. He's getting up. It is amazing how they survived the tremendous earthquake and tsunami. It's just amazing that they survived through this all."

Article by Zoe Fox for Time

http://newsfeed.time.com/2011/03/18/watch-heroic-dog-wont-leave-his-injured-friend-in-japan-debris/