A passer-by rescued a stray dog that fell into a canal outside a shopping mall in the Philippines.

Onlooker Jen Mendoza noticed the dog struggling to stay afloat in the ditch in Bacoor City, Cavite province on April 18. Since the sides were too steep, the stranded pooch paddled through the dirty canal while trying to find a way to safety.

A brave local clambered down through the filth and carried the pooch to dry land.

Jen said: 'The rescuers tried to coax it towards us using food, but the dog was too elusive. It's possible it may have been dumped there on purpose because it seemed terrified of people.

'We managed to rescue it eventually, but it ran away from us as soon as it stepped on dry land.'