Dog saver hailed as hero

MANILA, Philippines — Amid the flurry of images and stories about last Wednesday’s typhoon and catastrophic flooding, a one-minute video of an unidentified man rescuing an abandoned dog trapped in chest-deep floodwaters won the hearts of netizens.

The unidentified man, now being praised as a “hero” by some, was shown in the short footage risking his life to save a terrified dog trapped near the roof of a shanty almost submerged in floodwaters. It was not indicated where exactly the video was taken.

The rescuer, in white shirt and black shorts, was unmindful of the murky flood water and floating debris when he swam toward the direction of the dog.

Apparently already aware that help had arrived, the dog showed no sign of fear or resistance to the approaching human.

The rescuer grabbed the canine and placed it on his shoulders and made sure that the dog’s head was above the water.

He then swam sideward, holding on the railing of a closed gate until he reached the stairs. He then lifted the dog up the railing until the drenched creature was safely on the steps.

He hoisted himself over the railing without letting go of his grip on the animal.

The last few seconds of the video showed the man carrying the dog as he walked up to a house, unaware that his good deed was being recorded and posted on social media, and earned him the admiration of people.

Meanwhile, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) intends to give a “Hero to Animals” Award to the Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) for including the dogs in its rescue operations at the height of Typhoon Carina.

“Thanks to the rescue team’s kindness and compassion, many dogs survived a harrowing ordeal that endangered their lives. PETA salutes these rescuers for looking out for everyone, regardless of species, and hopes this story inspires others to come to the aid of those in need,” PETA senior vice president Jason Baker said in a statement.

PETA also encouraged all animal guardians to include their pets in any evacuation plan in case of emergencies.

Evacuation or rescue plans for pets may include posting signs on doors and windows alerting rescue workers to the presence of animals, in case disaster strikes when they’re not home. PETA may be reached through numbers 0999-888-7382 (PETA).