What seemed a happy reunion for a dog and its former owners ended in sadness for the unwanted pooch at a California pound.

Video captured the moment Zuzu, a two-year-old German shepherd, recognised her former masters when they visited the pound.

Footage shows the dog springing towards the wire enclosure with its tail wagging as it greets them.

Desi Lari, a volunteer at Downey Animal Care and Control in Los Angeles posted on social media.

"With her fast wagging tail seeing her owners Zuzu lit up like a Christmas Tree," Desi wrote on Facebook. "She looked like the happiest dog. Yeah, she's going home."

But it quickly emerged Zuzu’s former owners were not here to take her home. They were visiting to inspect another dog.

The video ends with her former human partners briefly waving before leaving as Zuzu barks alarmingly for them to stay.

They explained to volunteers at the pound that Zuzu wasn’t a happy pooch any more after her father had died.

"Their solutions for her unhappiness was just leaving her here! And go get another dog. Glad she's here now. That's not love for her," posted Desi.