Japan tsunami dog reunited with 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.

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

He said the shelter is caring for 19 dogs and several cats separated from their owners after the tsunami. Kazinform cites BBC. See www.bbc.co.uk for full version