Heartwarming moment senior citizen braves flooded river to save his pet dog in the Philippines

Heartwarming moment senior citizen braves flooded river to save his pet dog in the Philippines

This is the heartwarming moment a senior citizen braved a river that was swollen after heavy rain to save his pet dog.

Alexander Gabuya Pardillo’s pet pooch named Dodo had been following locals crossing the river during floods in Cebu province, the Philippines on February 23.

However, the dog lost its footing and was knocked over by the raging water after several days of torrential rains from tropical storm Auring.

Alexander waded through the muddy torrents to reach his brown Aspin dog, which fought off the currents and struggled to stay afloat.

The dog owner said he walked across the murky river with a stick to pull the dog up but without success.

Alexander then went to the other side of the river and walked through the water before grabbing the dog.

He said: "I could never leave my dog.

He’s my best friend.

Possessions can be replaced but I could never find another Dodo." Two concerned neighbours stood in front of a small weir to prevent the animal from being swept by the water until the old man reached his pet.

Everyone cheered when Alexander successfully carried the tired pooch back into the riverbank where he was covered in clothes to warm up.

One of the man’s neighbours, Japh Malak, who witnessed the heroic scene, said the old man had always been kind to animals.

He said: "He was even willing to risk his life to save his dog.

I salute him for that.

The dog is like a family member to him."