A pitbull who is believed to have dragged a nine-year-old boy out of a river after his mother allegedly tried to drown him will be returned to his owners.

NSW police officers said they do not intend to put down the dog named Buddy after finding he 'was acting in reasonable defence of the nine year old boy' who is now in hospital.

Buddy was detained by Murray River Council rangers on Thursday and was still in their custody, authorities said on Monday afternoon.

A petition was launched to save a pitbull named Buddy (pictured) who dragged a nine-year-old boy out of the Murray River after his mother allegedly tried to drown him

Buddy is believed to have intervened when a 27-year-old woman allegedly tried to drown her sons, aged nine and five, near Moama (pictured) on Thursday

The mum (pictured during her arrest) has been charged with murder and attempted murder

'Since the incident, we have micro chipped the dog and are working with the dog’s owner to register the dog and set up the appropriate conditions to enable the dog to return home,' Margot Stork, interim general manager for the council, said in a press release.

Buddy is believed to have intervened when a 27-year-old woman allegedly tried to drown her sons, aged nine and five, in the Murray River at Moama, on New South Wales-Victoria border, on Thursday.

A young boy's body, believed to be the five-year-old, was found in the river on Saturday and the nine-year-old is being treated for dog bites at the Royal Children's Hospital.

Their mother, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has been charged with murder and attempted murder.

NSW police officers said they do not intend to put down Buddy after finding he 'was acting in reasonable defence of the nine year old boy' who is now in hospital (pictured)

Emergency crews carry the body of a five-year-old boy out of the Murray River on Saturday

MURRAY RIVER CITY COUNCIL STATEMENT The events of last Thursday, where a five year old boy lost his life, a nine year old was hospitalised is a tragedy in every sense of the word. Our heartfelt condolences go out to the family, as well as the first responders who attended the scene. In response to the community members that have expressed their concerns about the welfare of a dog involved in the incident, council can confirm that the dog was seized by council Rangers on Thursday at the request of the NSW Police. The dog is well and presently being cared for in a Murray River Council facility. The NSW Police have since advised us that their investigations to date have deemed that the dog in question was responding to extreme circumstances and it is likely that the dog was acting in reasonable defence of the nine year old boy that was subsequently hospitalised. The NSW Police have advised council that they will not be seeking an order to destroy this animal. Since the incident, we have micro chipped the dog and are working with the dog’s owner to register the dog and set up the appropriate conditions to enable the dog to return home. The owner has visited the dog at council’s facility and is working with us to ensure compliance with all obligations under the Companion Animals Act. Our Rangers are passionate about animal welfare and we will always work with residents to ensure their pets are registered, micro-chipped, and provide any advice or assistance to help pet owners understand their rights and responsibilities under the Companion Animals Act. Advertisement

Buddy's owners created a GoPetition last week after he was seized, according to the Riverine Herald.

'Buddy the dog has reacted and attempted to save the boys in doing so he has bit the eldest boy in his rescue attempts, unfortunately, he was unable to save the youngest boy and has also bit the mother,' the dog's owners wrote on the petition, which has garnered more than 45,000 signatures.

'Buddy is a member of our family and has grown up around children his whole life and has been the most gentlest dog, he has clearly seen a child in distress and attempted to help.'

The maternal grandfather of the two young boys has come out in support of the petition.

'I own a similar dog and I know he was trying to save the boys, it's their nature when they are raised with kids,' he told The Courier-Mail.

'Let the ones who his actions affected decide. I have one grandson left, because this brave dog took action as required.'

The father of the boys was the subject of backlash over the weekend after he started a GoFundMe account requesting money for him to fly from Queensland and see the children.

The Brisbane man said all money raised from the charity page would 'go toward getting me to my older son' and all remaining funds would go to 'burying my little boy'.

The father revealed on Facebook on Friday he never met the five-year-old and had not seen the nine-year-old boy for a number of years.

He arrived in Melbourne on Sunday to see his eldest child, according to the Daily Telegraph.

The nine-year-old boy is in hospital with serious dog bite injuries (pictured)