A FIVE-YEAR-OLD dog has developed a habit of picking up used plastic bottles around its master's residential district in Tianjin municipality, China.

The pet is able to collect about 10,000 bottles a year during the walks with its master around the district and has become a star of environmental protection among residents.

"I sold the bottles for recycling for as much as 200 to 300 yuan (RM100-RM150) a year, which was enough for me to buy dog food," the dog's owner Chen Xiulu said.

"In this way, it has really been self-sufficient."

- China Daily/Asia News Network