A mechanic helped free a pet dog with its head stuck in the narrow hole of an alloy wheel.

The worker was contacted by pet owner Samrit Pongpitak, 75, whose adopted pooch named Chao Tan had been chasing rats around the garden in Ratchaburi province, Thailand.

The hapless hound charged under a vehicle in pursuit of the rodent but became stuck in a wheel leaned up against the body. The owner then heard the mutt crying for help on September 9.

Footage shows Chao Tan barking as he tries to pull his head from the wheel. The rescuer covered the dog's head with plastic and slathered oil around it to lubricate the fur.

They then gently pulled Chao Tan off the object, sliding its head free from the hole.

Samrit said: ‘My dog was chasing something before I heard him crying loudly. I found Chao Tan stuck in the wheel I left next to a car.'

Chao Tan was eventually freed without injuries and resumed playing in the garage.

Local authorities in Thailand surveyed the number of stray dogs in 2022 and found the total to be around 170,000. It dropped to an estimated 160,000 the following year.

However, the survey did not include bigger cities like Bangkok and Pattaya, known to have large numbers of strays.

The survey revealed that Songkhla, Ubon Ratchathani, and Chonburi provinces have the highest number of stray dogs.