Rescuers at Fur A Pawsitive Future in Houston, Texas, typically specialize in helping needy cats in their community, often through TNR, or trap-neuter-return. But when they recently heard about a different type of animal found struggling nearby, team members knew they couldn’t look the other way.

“[A resident] sent us a text and said, ‘Hey, Shireen, I just went to throw trash in the dumpster, and there were these eyes shining back at me,” Fur A Pawsitive Future president Dr. Shireen Hyrapiet told The Dodo.

Confused, Dr. Hyrapiet asked the resident to clarify.

“It’s a dog,” the resident texted back. “Somebody put a dog in the dumpster here.”

Dr. Hyrapiet assembled a rescue team and headed over. Peeking inside the dumpster, she found who she was looking for — a dejected pup laying in the corner of the trash can, surrounded by litter.

“He looked so defeated,” Dr. Hyrapiet said. “Our hearts just melted, broke [and] melted again.”

Rescuers attempted to remove the dog using a special leash, but the nervous pup wouldn’t budge. They needed to rethink their plan. The team eventually decided to place a crate inside the dumpster, hoping that he would see it and walk inside. Their theory prevailed — as soon as the pup saw the open crate door, he hopped right in. Then, rescuers secured the door and gently lifted him out to safety.

The team took the pup back to the rescue center, made him comfortable, and gave him ample food and water. The dog, still acclimating to his new surroundings, felt most comfortable in the security of his crate.

The next day, Dr. Hyrapiet emailed a local animal shelter and got permission to bring the pup over for further care. Eventually, the dog’s story reached rescuers at Texas Bark Squad, a non-profit organization, who helped him find a foster home. Now, this dog is eating well and sleeping in safety, surely feeling grateful for the animal lovers who plucked him from the trash.