Japanese quake dog reunited with owner

SENDAI, Japan, April 4 (UPI) -- A dog who spent three weeks drifting amidst rubble in the sea off the Japanese coast was reunited with its owner Monday, local media reported.

The owner of black-and-tan, mixed-breed, 2-year-old female named Ban had been watching on television Friday when members of the Japanese Coast Guard rescued the dog clinging to the roof of a building washed away by the post-earthquake tsunami, Kyodo News reported Monday.

After watching the report, the owner, who requested anonymity, went to the animal care center in Miyagi prefecture to retrieve her dog.

"We'll never let go of her," the owner said.

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