A young huntaway that was seized from its owner after becoming badly malnourished has bounced back in the care of a loving Bay of Plenty family.

The Wellington Zoo's six-year-old male giraffe Seun died today after an operation to cure a painful hoof condition.

The "sick" and "senseless" death of a dog dragged at least 4km behind a vehicle has horrified a motorist who tried to save the animal.