NORTH MANKATO — Three southern Minnesota residents have helped a dog who had been running loose with his head stuck inside a plastic jug.

Don and Katherine Nelson of Madison Lake, and their friend Sue Leach of St. Peter, were able to catch the emaciated black Labrador Retriever at a North Mankato park after following his tracks in the snow. The Free Press reports the Nelsons loaded the dog into their van and brought him to Minnesota Valley Pet Hospital.

The couple says the dog finally was able to wiggle free from the container while they were parking the van.

His rescuers estimate the dog was wandering around the Benson Park area with the jug around his neck for about three weeks.

He will remain at the animal hospital while recovering.