Monks rescued a hapless puppy that stuck its head inside a plastic pipe while scavenging for food in Thailand.

The holy men took the trapped stray to the Petasukhararom Temple in Rayong province after finding it wandering around the village wearing the PVC pipe around its head on October 2.

Temple abbot Phromchariyanuwat asked villagers to grab the puppy and bring it to the temple, where they worked on removing the pipe.

They first slicked the dog's neck in vegetable oil, trying to pull the tube loose, but it stayed tightly in place.

They then cut away at the blue pipe using a hacksaw, before splitting a chunk of it off with a hammer, finally freeing the pooch after 20 minutes. They wiped the animal down with a clean towel before allowing it to run off.

Villagers said they believe the puppy was trapped after it crammed its head into the pipe thinking there was food inside.