Murcia, Spain — Off-duty Guardia Civil officers Alejandro and Andrea responded after hearing barking coming from an irrigation channel in the Murcia area.

When they arrived, they found a small dog that had been tied with zip ties and weighed down with a brick to stop it from moving, left in the water of the irrigation system.

Footage shows a man in a blue t-shirt leaning over the concrete edge of the acequia, using pliers to cut through the zip ties securing the animal. He supports the dog’s head and body as it struggles in the water while being carefully freed.

The rescue takes place in the shallow, greenish water, where the man works gently while speaking to the frightened animal as it is lifted out of the restraint.

The dog has since been rescued and is now safe and recovering. Authorities have opened an investigation into the suspected act of animal cruelty.

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