Boy flushes dirty puppy down the loo

A week-old puppy is recovering after being accidentally flushed down a toilet by a four-year-old British boy who was trying to wash him.

The cocker spaniel's young owner, Daniel Blair, put him in the toilet because he "needed a wash" after getting muddy during a walk in the park, the Daily Mirror newspaper reports.

But the plan went awry when Daniel pulled the chain, sending the pint-sized pooch down the drain.

Daniel's mother Alison feared the worst when she realised what had happened.

"I ran to the bathroom but the dog was nowhere to be seen ... I assumed it was dead," Ms Blair was quoted as saying.

"I went into the garden, managed to lift up the drain cover and was amazed to hear him crying."

Ms Blair called a specialist drainage company after fire fighters and welfare officers were unable to pull the dog from the drain.

Dyno-Rod worker Will Craig used camera equipment to find the dog, which was located 20m from the house and lying upside down.

The dog was nudged towards the manhole cover before being pulled to the surface.

"At first I didn't want to do it because I was scared of hurting the dog," Mr Craig said.

"But the RSPCA said I was his only hope. Eventually I pushed him far enough for the firemen to grab."

Onlookers applauded as the pup, nicknamed Dyno after the company that rescued him, was pulled out.

Daniel said he was sorry for what happened.

"I won't do it again," he said.