This is the heartwarming moment a group of people rescues a puppy completely covered in molten rubber.

The kind passers-by found the stray crawling along the road in Chonburi, Thailand, on February 19, while drenched in the sticky black tar.

They rushed to scrub it off the puppy's fur amid fears the used construction material was potentially toxic.

Footage shows the villagers dousing the frightened pooch with solvent and cooking oil while rubbing off the dark muck with their bare hands.

As the asphalt stained the hands and arms black, they sat patiently on the roadside until most of the goo had been removed.

The puppy was cleaned and was later adopted by one of the people who rescued it.

Pam Boonlua, who was among those who helped the pooch, said: "The poor little thing looked terrible. I'm sure he would have died if nobody had found him. I'm angry at the people who left their rubbish lying around. It is a risk for animals".

The tar is believed to have been dumped on the roadside by workers after they had finished laying a nearby road.

This is the heartwarming moment hero residents rescued a puppy that was covered in molten rubber.

The kind passers-by found the hapless stray crawling along the road in Chonburi, Thailand on February 19 while drenched in the sticky black tar.

They rushed to scrub it off the puppy's fur amid fears the used construction material was potentially toxic.

Footage shows the villagers dousing the frightened pooch with solvent and cooking oil while rubbing off the dark muck with their bare hands.

As the asphalt stained the hands and arms black, they sat patiently on the roadside until most of the goo had been removed.

After the puppy had been cleaned, a nearby resident took in the animal. It has been staying with them ever since.

Onlooker Pam Boonlua, who was among those who helped the pooch, said: 'The poor little thing looked terrible. I'm sure he would have died if nobody had found him.

'I'm angry at the people who left their rubbish lying around. It is a risk for animals.'

The tar is believed to have been dumped on the roadside by workers after they had finished laying a nearby road.