A construction worker in Virginia was in the middle of his shift when a faint sound stopped him in his tracks. Tiny cries were coming from a nearby dumpster, and he rushed over, afraid of what he might find.
Inside, his worst fears were confirmed.
Tucked inside a discarded dog food bag were four newborn puppies — brown and white, barely clinging to warmth, and cold to the touch.
“He looked inside to find a dog food bag with four newborn puppies inside,” Appomattox Animal Shelter told The Dodo. “They were very cold.”
Knowing the puppies wouldn’t survive long on their own, the worker immediately called animal control. An officer arrived quickly and transported the fragile litter to Appomattox Animal Shelter, where staff sprang into action.
“We focused on warming them up and getting them fed right away,” the shelter said. “Their eyes and ears were still closed, and their umbilical cords were still attached.”
After examining the puppies, the shelter determined they were only about 24 hours old — making their survival nothing short of remarkable.
“Considering how young they were and how soon they were separated from their mom, they were actually in very good condition,” the shelter said. “They took to bottle feeding almost immediately and warmed up quickly.”
The shelter gave the puppies playful names inspired by the TV series Breaking Bad: Jane Margolis, Walter White, Saul Goodman and Gus Fring.
Soon after stabilizing, the litter was placed with an experienced foster family, where they continue to grow stronger each day. The puppies have since been transferred to the care of the Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA and will remain in foster care until they’re old enough to be adopted into loving forever homes.
Thanks to one worker’s quick action — and a lot of compassionate care — four tiny lives were given a second chance.
