On a recent hike through the foothills of Idaho’s Owyhee Mountains, a pair of hikers noticed a large plastic tote near the trail up ahead. Confused, the hikers approached the bin and realized it was full of seven skinny puppies, who’d been left all alone in the woods.

“[They] were horrified to find them left out there,” Lake Lowell Animal Rescue director Melissa Blackmer told The Dodo.

In need of help, the hikers brought the puppies out of the woods and began looking for rescue assistance. Unfortunately, they soon realized that most shelters in the area were already full to the brim with animals. Eventually, someone contacted Lake Lowell Animal Rescue. Though the rescue was similarly overpopulated, Lake Lowell Animal Rescue staff knew the puppies needed help.

Safe with the rescue, the puppies received veterinary care. In time, they began to recover and their personalities began to shine.

“While a little nervous, it was apparent they had been around people often before being abandoned in the mountains and were playful quite quickly with us,” Blackmer said.

Since the rescue didn’t have space for the puppies, staff members reached out to foster parents in the area. Groups of puppies soon traveled to these temporary homes, happy to be safe and loved.

Every day, the puppies put on a bit more weight and continue to bounce back. It won’t be long until they find permanent families of their own.

Blackmer is so grateful to the foster families who generously opened their homes to these dogs in need. Thanks to these fosters, these friendly puppies will get to live the lives they deserve.

“We can’t state enough how important foster homes are to animal rescues,” Blackmer said. “We depend on foster homes just as much as we do their forever homes.”