Back in his owner's arms, the tsunami dog who survived three weeks at sea on wrecked house

Back where she belongs: The plucky dog was finally reunited with her owner, who alerted police after spotting her on TV


The lucky dog rescued from a roof drifting off Japanese coast for three weeks after the tsunami has finally been reunited with her owner.

Members of the Japan Coast Guard spotted the stricken pet - who had drifted nearly 2km offshore - during an aerial search of the area.

The two-year-old dog, called Ban, had an emotional reunion with her female owner after the woman spotted her on television.

Ban had survived for three weeks after the tsunami when coastguards spotted her while searching at sea for human survivors.

She was found drifting some 1.8km (1.1 miles) off Kesennuma, Miyagi prefecture, one of the Japanese areas hit worst by the disaster.

Local television showed showed pictures of the dog scampering around the roof of the house before it disappeared inside through a hole in the roof.


The emotional reunion came after the dog survived for three weeks on its own out at sea


It is thought the roof had become detached and washed out to sea by receding waters from the tsunami, which struck northeast Japan on March 11.

Her owner recognised the dog on TV and alerted authorities, who reunited woman and pet yesterday.

The pair were reunited at an animal care centre where the dog was being looked after.
The dog's owner, a woman who did not wish to be named, said: 'We'll never let go of her.


Against all odds: The dog appears to have survived by clinging to a house that had been swept away by the massive earthquake and tsunami that struck on March 11


'I saw the rescue on the news, and knew it was her. I knew her right away, from her face.'

Toshiro Suzuki, head of the animal shelter, said: 'I'm happy for the reunion, after they were separated by the disaster.'


Japan 'tsunami dog' Ban reunited with owner after surviving at sea



source: dailymail