SHANGHAI, Aug. 1 -- A DOG in southwestern Chongqing Municipality is said to have swam across part of the flood-swollen Yangtze River every day to feed her puppies that were trapped on an island for almost 15 days.

Hua Hua reportedly swam more than one kilometer to Shanhuba Island, where her four newborn puppies were stranded due to rising water levels, Chongqing Evening News reported today.

Shanhuba's road links to the mainland have been inaccessible since mid-July because of the high water level, the report said.

The four puppies, about 10-days old, were said to be huddled together in some hollow bricks piled on the island, the report cited Huang Pinghui, a local who found the puppies on Friday afternoon.

A Chongqing Evening News reporter took Huang's boat and followed Hua Hua to the island yesterday afternoon.

The report said Hua Hua searched for food during the day on the mainland and swam to the island at night to feed her babies.

Touched by Hua Hua's care and dedication, residents gave the dog meat and other food, the report said.

Huang also told the newspaper that residents were considering finding a home for Hua Hua and her puppies after the floodwaters retreated.