Jay Ferrer Jeffrey Linjungan was found stuck inside a metre deep hole with his legs protruding outside by a family member, Penampang district police chief Deputy Supt Ratan Kumar Singh said.
The entrance width of the hole was about 45cm.
Jay was trying to rescue a litter of puppies from the hole when he apparently got stuck inside, following which he suffocated to death, Singh said.
He said Jay managed to pull out two puppies from the hole and was attempting to take the third puppy out when he got into trouble.