Owners of pining dog seek return

The mother dog who fought desperately to save her drowned puppies is still being cared for by the SPCA, despite her owners coming forward.
The American pitbull Staffordshire-cross was named Faith by the SPCA after being found three weeks ago frantically trying to pull her newborn puppies from the Welcome Bay estuary. The litter of six was stuffed into a plastic bag and drowned in the dead of the night.
Neighbouring residents who heard Faith's howling saw her attempting to carry the saturated bag and her puppies' bodies to shelter.
Faith was taken into care by the SPCA on behalf of Tauranga City Council, as she was still lactating. She howled constantly for nearly a week after her puppies' death.
Faith's owners later made contact with Tauranga City Council.
Tauranga City Council animal services team leader Brent Lincoln said the owners indicated they wanted the dog back.
However, Faith's future depended on an SPCA investigation into the incident and the dog's condition. She was found skinny and malnourished.
Tauranga SPCA animal welfare inspector Jason Blair said Faith was "much happier" now.
"She has [stopped] pining for the puppies it seems.
"She has gone to a foster home where there is a puppy about as well, so she's having fun running around with them," he said.
Mr Blair said it was too early to say if Faith would go back to her owners, despite interest in people wanting to adopt her.