Update: Japanese TV Captures Emotional Reunion Between Owner & Lost Dog
- Posted on April 4, 2011 at 12:12pm by
Jonathon M. Seidl
- Print »
- Email »
TOKYO (AP) — A dog rescued from drifting ocean debris immediately jumped to her owner and wagged her tail at their reunion more than three weeks after Japan’s tsunami.
(Read our original report on this incredible story.)
Toshio Suzuki described Monday’s reunion at the animal shelter he heads in the tsunami-wrecked Miyagi region of northern Japan. The owner of the 2-year-old mixed breed named Ban saw Friday’s rescue on television.
The woman was not identified for privacy reasons. Suzuki said she has an adult daughter and that the family suffered tsunami damage but was not specific.
Public broadcaster NHK aired images of the reunion with the woman hugging Ban and the dog warmly wagging her tail.
A coast guard helicopter crew spotted Ban more than a mile (two kilometers) off the tsunami-hit town of Kesennuma in Miyagi. It wasn’t known how long the dog had been at sea.
Suzuki says the shelter keeps 19 dogs and several cats separated from their owners after the March 11 tsunami.
Popular Stories
Paper Details Obama Admin’s Alleged Secret Note Sent to Iran: If Israel Attacks, We Won’t Get Involved 590 Comments
This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 415 Comments
‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 414 Comments
President Obama Issues Major ‘Green Energy’ Executive Order 379 Comments
Roseanne Barr: Most Billionaires ‘Violent Pedophiles’ & ‘Heartless’ Cocaine Addicts 375 Comments
Faith
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 415 Comments
Pakistani Muslim Cleric Accused of Framing Disabled Christian Girl in Koran-Burning Case Read More- ‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 414 Comments
Meet the Controversial German Imam Accused of Brutally Beating His Wife & Pushing Sharia Law Read More
‘Self-Proclaimed Messiah’ & Unification Church Leader the Rev. Sun Myung Moon Has Died — Here’s His Life Story Read More
Business
- President Obama Issues Major ‘Green Energy’ Executive Order 379 Comments
- Germany’s Upcoming Court Ruling Will be Huge for the EU Read More
Ford Looks to Beat Toyota for Best-Selling Car in 2012 With This Model 151 Comments
Bernanke & QE3: Here’s What You Need to Know 100 Comments- ‘Extortion’: Why Did the Labor Department ‘Drop the Hammer’ on Oregon Farmers? 303 Comments
Technology
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 415 Comments
‘TaserDrone’: Hackers Weaponize Quadcopter With Actual ‘Shocking’ Technology Read More
Ever Heard of the Wild ‘Burning Man’ Festival in the Middle of the Nev. Desert? Here’s Your Primer Read More
Stanford Develops Technology ‘Better Than Steroids’ for Athlete Recovery Read More
Have You Pretended to Know What ‘the Cloud’ Is? You’re Not Alone Read More
Submitting your tip... please wait!
Comments (70)
Sunnyr
Posted on April 4, 2011 at 1:45pmLove it!! The stories of survivors, including our best buddies, our pets, is so uplifting. Thanks, Blaze, for making my day.
Report Post »Bob
Posted on April 4, 2011 at 1:32pmVery cool, but why the surgical mask?
Report Post »APROUDVETERAN
Posted on April 6, 2011 at 10:07amBob…..re the surgical mask….she could be wearing it for the possible radiation in the air OR unlike westerners (the Japanese people are the most gracious and polite people you can meet) the Japanese are very cognizant of their own germs or the germs of others and the possibility of spreading of their germs or catching the germs of others. Surgical masks are a very common sight on the streets and countryside of Japan.
Report Post »concealled9mms
Posted on April 4, 2011 at 1:32pmFor once a nice story im shocked
Report Post »Mainer forever
Posted on April 4, 2011 at 1:17pmThat was an awsome tale….(yes pun intended)
Report Post »charliego
Posted on April 4, 2011 at 1:09pmThis story is wonderful. Always look for miracles; they can show up in the most unforeseen places.
Report Post »dontbotherme
Posted on April 4, 2011 at 1:08pmOh, I so miss my dog. She died 4 years ago. This was so neat! :D
Report Post »TumbleBumble
Posted on April 4, 2011 at 2:54pmSame here. Do you still think you see her from the corner of your eye sometimes? There‘s that moment of elation and a nano second later you realize it just couldn’t be.
Report Post »welovetheUSA
Posted on April 4, 2011 at 1:06pmSomething heart warming in such heart breaking times for Japan.
Report Post »dolphinmeat
Posted on April 4, 2011 at 1:05pmThe fact that footage came from RT (Russia Today) news and being posted on the blaze is disturbing. RT news is even worse than CBS or even MSNBC.
Has some self respect Blaze.
Report Post »Dano62
Posted on April 4, 2011 at 1:24pmI was wondering who would have the first negative comment on such a great story. You win (who says a LOSER never wins). Who cares where the story originated? As Glenn says, “The truth has no agenda”. Unless the story isn’t true, I don’t see the problem.
Report Post »Marylou7
Posted on April 4, 2011 at 1:02pmThat is absolutely precious. Couldn’t help but cry. I love my dog so much.
Report Post »JoeBtfsplk
Posted on April 4, 2011 at 1:01pm“Who’s a good dog?!”
Report Post »GENE BLISTER
Posted on April 4, 2011 at 12:53pmAmen, Mary. Finally, FINALLY some happiness and hope out of this. Ban is home. To him all is well now, no matter what. Most humans aren’t worth the powder to blow them to hell, but animals…dear friends.
Report Post »“If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you. This is the principal difference between a dog and a man.” – Pudd’nhead Wilson
ladykrystyna
Posted on April 4, 2011 at 12:51pmThere’s just something about stories like these that just melt your heart.
To me, the measure of a person is how they treat animals and children – both of whom love unconditionally and give their trust so easily such that if you break that trust by abusing them, it destroys the animal and the child. And there is a special circle of Hell for those that abuse children and animals.
And there is something so wonderous about watching a pet reunited with its owners, just like watching a child reunited with their parents (like those montages of soldiers coming home to surprise their children – can’t get through those without sobbing).
It also reminds me of this very old chimpanzee that was part of a language experiment many many years ago (I think it was like over 30 years ago). The chimp was taught sign language and later taken out of the experiment by its owner, to the dashed feelings of the scientists who had really grown attached to the chimp.
One of the news stories had their reunion – after 30 years, the chimp still remembered the sign for the scientists name – he remembered him just be seeing his face although it had been so long. Amazing.
Report Post »HairRazor
Posted on April 4, 2011 at 12:46pmhe‘s a good boy and he’s got it made.
Report Post »TumbleBumble
Posted on April 4, 2011 at 12:44pmAnd for the moment, all is right with the world. :)
Report Post »raydg
Posted on April 4, 2011 at 12:44pmWhat a happy reunion. Great!!!!!
Report Post »maryslittlelamb
Posted on April 4, 2011 at 12:39pmReunion after despair always brings a tear to my eye.
Report Post »Drum Man
Posted on April 4, 2011 at 12:36pmAwesome! That dog had a great big smile! So did I!
Report Post »biohazard23
Posted on April 4, 2011 at 12:35pmGood doggy!! I actually prefer my 2 dogs to most humans anyway……
Report Post »Stevsea
Posted on April 4, 2011 at 12:35pmYaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Report Post »Showtime
Posted on April 4, 2011 at 12:30pmBan was not a happy dog until he saw his owner. That ws one worried look on Ban’s face when he was rescued.
Report Post »truthwinz
Posted on April 4, 2011 at 8:27pmYou could tell he was looking for his master. Not a familiar face in the crowd. AND THEN…………… !! What a great story. Good Boy Ban !
Report Post »pap pap
Posted on April 4, 2011 at 12:28pmThat was beautiful.
Report Post »liriadavila
Posted on April 4, 2011 at 12:25pmEmotional!
Report Post »RightPolitically
Posted on April 4, 2011 at 12:24pmThis is beautiful. I love animals, especially dogs. They love us, depend on us and are true, real and loyal. They are are permanent four legged kids!
Report Post »Its Gonna Getcha
Posted on April 4, 2011 at 12:21pmThe devotion and versatility of this creature the dog, is just heaven-sent.
Report Post »poverty.sucks
Posted on April 4, 2011 at 12:16pmThats very cool!
Report Post »greggor
Posted on April 4, 2011 at 12:23pmI know!! It’s hard to tell who is happier!!
Report Post »Sometimes, life throws you a bone.
ishka4me
Posted on April 4, 2011 at 12:23pm80 pound lap dog
Report Post »Blacktooth
Posted on April 4, 2011 at 12:46pmSome good news for a change!
Report Post »AzDebi
Posted on April 4, 2011 at 12:55pmWhat a truly amazing story…Life is Good!
Report Post »No1YaKnow
Posted on April 4, 2011 at 1:33pmI love this kind of news!
Report Post »thegrassroots
Posted on April 4, 2011 at 1:38pmHeart Warmed To Tears!
Report Post »MIBUGNU2
Posted on April 4, 2011 at 1:39pmStill have tears in my eye’s as I am writing this..
Report Post »Really like the comment,
“Sometime‘s life throw’s you a bone” Great !!!!
dabbo
Posted on April 4, 2011 at 1:40pmI couldn’t understand a word that dog was barking….but it’s nice to see a “good news” story from Japan no matter how minor.
I
Report Post »mill
Posted on April 4, 2011 at 2:33pmgood stuff, thanks
Report Post »grandmaof5
Posted on April 4, 2011 at 3:29pmA happy ending twice – that doesn’t often happen. There is hope for America if we pray and work together.
Report Post »Secret Squirrel
Posted on April 4, 2011 at 6:04pm………
Report Post »I know there are dogs in heaven,
because they deserve to be there.
Mee the People
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 2:31am….. Like ….
Report Post »