It seemed like an ordinary morning at Adams County Pet Rescue in Othello, Washington, when staff members noticed something unusual sitting near the entrance — a worn cardboard box placed neatly on the sidewalk. Written in black ink across the side were the words: “Found on HWY 17.”

At first glance, it didn’t seem remarkable, but the team knew better. For those who work in animal rescue, boxes left behind rarely hold anything simple. Inside, they found seven tiny faces peering up at them — a litter of 9-week-old puppies who had been abandoned along the highway.

Rescue worker Anita Plancarte recalled the moment they realized what had happened. “I think that was the general response from everyone here that day,” she said in an interview. “‘Not again.’”

The staff had seen this before: litters of unwanted puppies, left in dangerous conditions, waiting for someone to notice. While the situation was heartbreaking, their instincts quickly took over. The team moved the box inside, offering food, water, and the comfort of safety.

The pups, exhausted and confused, seemed uncertain but not aggressive. “They seemed a little, tiny bit … maybe scared?” Plancarte said. “But not in an aggressive way or trying to bite people. They’re just unsure.”

As the puppies settled in, their fear began to fade. Soft blankets replaced the cold cardboard, and gentle hands replaced the fear of abandonment. With each meal and moment of care, they started to show their playful personalities — proof of just how quickly trust can return when kindness is shown.

For the small rescue team, however, the discovery was another reminder of the growing challenges shelters face across the country. Abandonments like this are not rare, and most could be prevented through responsible pet ownership. Adams County Pet Rescue hopes the story will serve as a message to others — that surrendering animals through proper channels, rather than leaving them to fend for themselves, can save lives.

“Crazy things happen to us all the time!” the organization wrote in a Facebook post about the incident. “We could decide to not share all the times [that] this [happens] and just keep it to ourselves, or we can share it with you.”

The shelter added, “A guy in his plaid pajama bottoms, black shirt and ball cap (yeah, we have a picture of you and your vehicle) drug this box of puppies across the parking lot and left them.”

Comments from supporters poured in. Many voiced their concern for the puppies and relief that they are now safe in capable hands.

Despite the difficult beginning, these seven puppies now have a chance to grow up in loving homes. They are receiving care, medical attention, and the affection they were missing on that lonely highway. Their story, though painful at first, has a hopeful ending that speaks to the compassion and persistence of rescue workers who refuse to look the other way.

Thanks to the dedication of the Adams County team, the puppies no longer have to wonder where they belong. Surrounded by people who care, they’re finally safe and learning what it means to be loved.

Thank you, Adams County Pet Rescue, for helping these precious pups!