An energetic dog south of the border has raised more than $20,000 for cancer research, after he escaped from his yard and ran most of a half-marathon charity race.

Dozer, a three-year-old golden retriever-poodle mix, was with his owners visiting family near Baltimore, Md., on May 13 when he joined the 2,000 runners passing by the yard.

He set off about eight kilometres into the 21-kilometre Maryland Half Marathon, and runners reported seeing him at several points afterward along the route.

A power outage had disabled an invisible fence around the property, a local TV station reported, which set the stage for Dozer's escape.

Video uploaded to YouTube -- which has been viewed nearly 180,000 times -- shows the intrepid pooch crossing the finish line at the 2 hours and 14 minute mark, as onlookers cheer and chuckle.

"He was just looking up and looking around at things and not paying attention to anyone in particular," said Dr. Kevin Cullen, with the University of Maryland's Greenbaum Cancer Center, the beneficiary of the fundraiser.

After the race Dozer made his way home, but race organizers later tracked him down and awarded him a medal.

Dozer's owners also created a webpage to help raise funds for the Greenbaum Cancer Center. And the donations have been rolling in. As of Friday afternoon, the website said he had raised $21,233 -- putting him within striking distance of his $25,000 goal.

Some donors have forked over as much as $250 each to support Dozer's cause.

"I was moved to take action so I set up this page to help out," a message from "Dozer" explains on the website. "I had to walk all the way home after the race and Mom didn't find me at home until the next morning.....boy was I sore!!"

Dozer is currently training to run the entire charity race next year.

With files from The Associated Press and a report from CTV's John Vennavally Rao