TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — This past winter the Terre Haute Humane Society brought in four puppies and their mom after they were found abandoned outside of a home.

THHS crew worked to make sure the puppies stayed alive, trying to warm their bodies. They were unsure if two of the puppies would make it.

“He had a heartbeat, but we weren’t even sure if he was breathing. And he just took that breath and I was holding him and I thought, ‘ok, I can’t let him go,'” staff member Stacy Wilkins recalled.

When one of the puppies, “Lucky” was found, his face was frozen to the ground. Staff thought he may go blind in one eye.

“We even did the skin on skin, like you do with a baby, baby. And I was just like, ‘oh, man he’s not going to make it’ and I’m just rubbing him and I’m like, ‘come on, buddy’ and when he just took that breath, it was almost like your kid … It was just one of those things,” Wilkins said that’s when she knew, “Lucky” was coming home with her.

The pups’ mom was also emaciated when she was found, so all puppies had to be bottle fed. “Lucky” was so small, he was fed through a syringe. Wilkins is glad to report today that all puppies and mom are doing well and have been adopted.