A litter of “tiny” Pug puppies that were found abandoned in a dumpster at the back of a fast-food restaurant is ready to meet their new families after a heartbreaking start to life.
The journey began on December 17, 2024, when a good Samaritan discovered the litter of puppies in a bag behind a Taco Bell in Lemon Grove, California.
Only hours old, the pups had been tossed aside and left to die in a dumpster. Fortunately, they were found by an individual who immediately took them to a veterinarian and then brought them to Helen Woodward Animal Center for further care.
Helen Woodward Animal Center’s foster department quickly jumped into action, organizing bottle-feeding foster homes and setting up medical appointments to ensure the puppies received the best possible care.
“On the first day we saw them, we had no idea what breed they were,” Kendall Schulz, the center’s adoption services director, said in a press release. “We labeled them ‘terrier blends,’ but they were so tiny and new, we knew that they could be just about anything. When any litter that young arrives seeking care, we know how fragile they are and our primary concern simply becomes doing everything we can to save their lives.”
Tragically, one puppy did not survive, but the remaining seven thrived. As they grew, it became clear that they were not terrier mixes at all. Instead, their faces clearly resembled that of Pugs, and they were soon affectionately named the “Rainbow Puppies”—Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, and Violet—to celebrate their lucky rescue.
Newsweek has reached out to the Helen Woodward Animal Center via email for comment on Friday morning.
Helen Woodward Animal Center
Animal welfare organizations have long advocated for regulating purebred breeders, due to the many purebred pets that face neglect or abandonment after being bred in unsanitary conditions or for profit, something that Helen Woodward Animal Center echoes.
“When puppies become a business to unlicensed breeders, there is very little value placed on their lives,” Schulz said. “When they are viewed as a product instead of a living being, their survival can often come down to costs and profits. Helen Woodward Animal Center values every life. We are incredibly grateful for the time we have spent to save this sweet family.”
Now healthy and ready for adoption, the seven Pug puppies will be available for adoption starting at 10 a.m. on Friday, February 21. Due to the popularity of the breed, potential adopters are encouraged to arrive early, as adoptions will be on a first-come, first-served basis.
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
Helen Woodward Animal Center
