A rescue dog celebrated his first birthday with a puppy cake and his friends at an animal shelter.

Footage shows the one-year-old Aspin pooch named Orient leaning on the table in front of his treat while kind volunteers sang for him in Bulacan, the Philippines. Orient's dessert was Cocomelon-themed, a television show for kids, because his caretakers said they treat the canine like their own child. He also had spring rolls, hot dogs, and stir-fry noodles to share to the volunteers.

One of the rescue volunteers, Luzviminda Morales, said: 'We organise parties for our dogs as much as our budget allows.

'We have more than 600 dogs under our care, so we are very happy every time we can gather like that.'

Orient's friends barked in unison with the singing and ran around to celebrate the party.

Luzviminda added: 'I hope more people will support our advocacy for a better life for our strays.'

The Philippines and Southeast Asia generally have a significant population of stray dogs due to factors such as abandonment, unregulated breeding, and a lack of comprehensive animal welfare infrastructure. They are common in urban and rural areas, often scavenging for food and facing health risks like malnutrition, disease, and accidents.