Covered in thick black tar and struggling to breathe, a litter of stray  puppies in southern India beat the odds thanks to quick action from local animal lovers and rescuers.

In the town of Tirur, located in Kerala, India, a heartbreaking scene unfolded when eight stray puppies were found completely coated in toxic tar.

The barrel had apparently toppled over while the puppies were sleeping nearby, trapping them in the sticky mess for nearly eight hours. Immobile and barely breathing, their chances of survival looked slim.

Fortunately, a compassionate local resident, Mr. Jaleel, spotted the puppies and immediately reached out to the Humane Society International (HSI) India team for help. When rescuers arrived, the puppies were in critical condition—exhausted, overwhelmed by fumes, and unable to move as the thick tar glued them to the ground.

Sally Varma of HSI India praised the community’s involvement, saying, “This was such an incredible community effort because there is no doubt that these puppies would have died if the locals had not come to their aid.”

Rescuers worked tirelessly for hours, using vegetable oil to gently remove the tar from the puppies’ fur. The process was slow and difficult, especially since the tar had covered their eyes, noses, and mouths, making it hard for them to breathe or see.

Despite the grueling task, the HSI team refused to give up. Their efforts paid off. Once the puppies were cleaned and the tar removed, tey began showing signs of recovery—moving around and eventually nursing from their mother again.

After this life-threatening ordeal, the puppies are now safe. They’ll receive vaccinations and be sterilized before returning to the streets of Tirur, where they’ll hopefully have a brighter, safer future.

This rescue is a reminder of the power of compassion—and how a community coming together can turn tragedy into hope.