This is the heart-wrenching moment an abandoned puppy was found keeping itself afloat on a set of iron steps after being abandoned in a water-filled drain.

The two-week-old dog and his three brothers were left on a patch of wasteland in Cha-am, southern Thailand. Residents heard their cries on Friday afternoon (December 14) and called the local dog shelter to help.

Three of the dogs were collected safely but one was found to be trapped in the filthy concrete drain. It was frantically kicking its legs while using its front paws to support itself against a steel ladder.

Without the little dog's clever method of staying afloat, he would have almost certainly have drowned in the 4ft deep water.

Luckily, one of the dog shelter's staff was able to climb down into the well and pluck him to safety before he became too tired.

The puppy, now nicknamed Blah - the Thai word for fish - has now been reunited with his three siblings and is recovering at the Cha-am Stray Dogs Rescue after being deemed healthy.

Owner Nuch said: ''There were four puppies all dumped at the wasteground. One of them had been thrown in the drain or had fallen in there himself.

''When we arrived we found the first three and had to look around for him. He was in the water and struggling to stop himself from drowning.

''The area was flooded and he would have died if we did not find him. I think the people who threw the puppies away should be punished. It is so cruel.''

This is the heart-wrenching moment an abandoned puppy was found - keeping itself afloat on a set of iron steps after being abandoned in a water-filled drain.

The two-week-old dog and his three brothers were left on a patch of wasteland in Cha-am, southern Thailand. Residents heard their cries last Friday (14/12) afternoon and called the local dog shelter to help.

Three of the dogs were collected safely, but one was found to be trapped in the filthy concrete drain. It was frantically kicking its legs while using its front paws to support itself against a steel ladder.

Without the little dog's clever method of staying afloat, he would have almost certainly have drowned in the 4ft deep water.

Luckily, one of the dog shelter's staff was able to climb down into the well and pluck him to safety before he became too tired.

The puppy, now nicknamed 'Blah', the Thai word for fish, has now been re-united with his three siblings and its recovering at the Cha-am Stray Dogs Rescue after being deemed healthy.

The owner, Nuch, said: ''There were four puppies all dumped at the waste-ground. One of them had been thrown in the drain or had fallen in there himself.

''When we arrived we found the first three and had to look around for him. He was in the water and struggling to stop himself from drowning.

''The area was flooded and he would have died if we did not find him. I think the people who threw the puppies away should be punished. It is so cruel.''