Murray river dog Buddy heading home

The owners of a dog involved in the Murray River drowning tragedy have thanked supporters, saying their beloved pet will be returning home after spending a few days at a council pound.

The pit bull cross, which bit a nine-year-old boy and his 27-year-old mother accused of drowning her other son, aged five, has been at a council facility since Thursday when it was seized by rangers at the request of police.

The older boy sustained serious bites and remains in a Melbourne hospital in a stable condition.

NSW Police has advised the Murray River Council that the pit bull cross was responding to extreme circumstances and was likely acting in "reasonable defence" of the boy.

The owners of the dog, named Buddy, launched an online petition to save the much-loved pet which they said had never bitten anyone before.

They thanked supporters on Tuesday.

"I just want to tell everyone that our boy Buddy is coming home," owner Jess Smith wrote on the online petition.

"He has a few things to get into place before he comes home but the main thing is he is coming home."

The Murray River Council on Monday said it would microchip the dog and get it registered before allowing it to return home.

It said the dog was well and being cared for in a council facility.

The 27-year-old mother has been charged with murdering her five-year-old son whose body was found in the river on Saturday.

She's also been charged with the attempted murder of her nine-year-old son.

The family members can't be named for legal reasons.