"Dumpster Puppies" survive to get a new "leash" on life in San Diego

Rancho Santa Fe , CA - The faint squeals coming from a dumpster in Kingman , Arizona were barely loud enough to draw attention. When the lid was opened, there among the garbage was a box containing six small puppies. If their cries had not been heard the pups would have died under the desert sun or been crushed when the garbage truck arrived. Instead, they will be available for adoption at Helen Woodward Animal Center sometime in the next couple weeks.  

"How could anyone be so cruel to take six tiny puppies and sentence them so such a terrible death?" says Helen Woodward Animal Center Adoption Manager LaBeth Thompson . "It's a miracle that someone just happened to be walking past at the right time before the pups lost consciousness because of the heat or died of dehydration."

After being rescued from the dumpster the pups were given to HALT (Helping Animals Lives Today), an all-volunteer pet rescue organization in Kingman. HALT contacted Helen Woodward Animal Center in Rancho Santa Fe, CA and asked the Center to provide foster care until the pups would be old enough to be placed in loving, lifelong homes. HWAC officials asked, "How soon can we have them?"

Thompson says that the puppies were probably born during the last week of March. "It's hard to tell for sure because of all they've been through. We've listed March 27 as the date of birth for the 4 little boys and 2 little girl puppies. As near as we can tell, they're little Boxer-mixes. The prognosis is good."

The sisters are named Tapioca and Thimble. Their brothers are Tiki, Tawnie, Tequila, and Thistle. All six are being cared for by HWAC foster care volunteers until they are strong enough to be altered and made available for adoption. "We hope that they'll be ready in the next week or two" says Thompson. "They've been through so much already. It's time for them to start the lives they deserve."

For more information about pets available for adoption or to find out more about Helen Woodward Animal Center 's foster care program visit the Center at 6461 El Apajo Road in Rancho Santa Fe, call 858-756-4117.