A kind resident climbed into a drainage canal to save a pregnant stray dog.

Rejoyce Araral and her colleague heard the pooch crying after heavy rain and found her near their office in Davao del Sur, the Philippines, on March 1.

Footage shows the Good Samaritan lowering a ladder onto the drainage ditch to reach the mother canine.

He carefully descended the steps and into the waist-deep water where the dog had been clinging onto the concrete ledge to keep herself afloat.

Rejoyce said: 'The dog's stomach was bulging so we believe it was pregnant. We felt sorry for it and brought a ladder to rescue it.'

The pooch was guided back into the village afterwards, although she refused to leave her rescuers.

Rejoyce added: 'I hope more people would be more compassionate to stray dogs.'

The Philippines has a large population of stray dogs. Many strays roam freely due to abandonment, lack of spaying or neutering programs, and a culture of loose pet ownership