On the remote island of El Hierro in Spain, two friends tackling a home renovation stumbled onto something shocking.
While clearing out construction debris, they noticed a sealed cardboard box sitting beside a dumpster — a box with tiny air holes punched into the sides.
Curious and concerned, the pair opened it — and were stunned to find five tiny puppies huddled together inside.
“The men were devastated by such cruelty,” a spokesperson from local animal rescue El Juaclo told The Dodo.
They quickly called the rescue for help, and volunteer Vanesa rushed to the scene. She helped safely transfer the puppies into care, ensuring they were warm and out of harm’s way.
But the story didn’t end there.
The very next day, Vanesa returned to the site to check the area — and discovered a sixth puppy who had somehow been missed. The frightened pup was quickly scooped up and reunited with his littermates in foster care.
At first, all six puppies seemed healthy. But after just a few days, their condition began to deteriorate. They developed diarrhea, became listless, and required urgent medical attention.
Fortunately, antibiotics worked quickly, and within 48 hours, the pups were back on their paws — active, curious, and playful once more.
Inspired by the rescue, both of the men who found the puppies decided to adopt one each. Two more found loving homes shortly after.
Today, only two pups remain — waiting patiently for families who will give them the joy and stability they deserve.
Thanks to a simple act of curiosity and compassion, these dogs went from being discarded to deeply cherished.
If you’d like to support more rescues like this, you can donate to El Juaclo using these details:
IBAN: ES62 2100 6763 1122 0022 9544
BIC/Swift: CAIXESBBXXX
