Oil rig crew rescues dog found swimming 135 miles off Thailand

BANGKOK (KTVU, AP) - A dog found swimming more than 135 miles off the coast of Thailand was rescued by workers on an oil rig crew, and is now safely back on land.

Vitisak Payalaw, a worker on the rig belonging to Chevron Thailand Exploration and Production, said on his Facebook page that the crew spotted the dog swimming toward the platform last Friday. 

Vitisak wrote that the dog wasn't barking or whimpering and that crew members were lucky to spot it because the waters were calm. He noted that if there had been waves, the dog likely would not have been visible.

The crew managed to rescue the animal by putting a rope around its neck and hauling it on board. 

The dog's resilience earned him the name "Boon Rod" or "Survivor." 

It's not known where the dog came from, but rescuers speculate "Bood Rod" may have fallen off a fishing boat. 

On Monday, Vitisak posted photos of the sweet dog with a wreath of flowers around its neck as crew members prepared for the animal to be returned to shore. 

A boat later delivered "Boon Rod" to the southern port of Songkhla. The dog is now in the care of an animal protection group called "Watchdog Thailand." The group reports "Bood Rod" is in good health.

Vitisak said if the dog was unclaimed, he would like to adopt the animal and bring him to his home in northeast Thailand.

This story was reported from Oakland, Calif.