6 Apr 2011

Rescued dog reunited with Japanese owner

8:36 am on 6 April 2011

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

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

The two-year-old dog, named Ban, had an emotional reunion with her owner at an animal care centre where she was being looked after, the BBC reports.

The woman recognised the dog from a television news report.

Ban was found by a Japan Coast Guard crew 1.8km off Kesennuma in Miyagi prefecture.

Local media reported that Ban jumped up and wagged her tail when she saw her owner.