It was one of those scorching, sticky days in Cartagena, Colombia — the kind where the air feels thick and every step feels heavier than the last. A local resident was walking past a crowded bus station when something odd caught his eye near a trash pile. At first glance, it looked like discarded rags resting atop a heap of paper and plastic. But as he took a few cautious steps closer, his heart sank. What he had spotted wasn’t garbage at all — it was two tiny puppies, curled up on top of the trash, completely still.

The puppies looked no older than a month. There was no mother in sight, and no signs of any other littermates nearby. They were nestled in the waste like they were trying to find comfort, their little bodies nearly blending in with the debris. At first, they appeared to be sleeping peacefully, but something told the man they needed help — fast. He didn’t hesitate. He reached for his phone and contacted Isla Animal, a local animal rescue group known for stepping in when animals have nowhere else to turn.

Lina Patino, the founder of Isla Animal, sprang into action as soon as she got the call. She was accompanied by her fellow rescuer, Jennifer Ponsford. The two women didn’t waste a second. Braving the oppressive heat, they raced to the scene and quickly found the tiny puppies just as described — lying helplessly beside the bus terminal, surrounded by garbage, discarded as if they were nothing.

“They were thrown away in a garbage can next to the bus terminal,” Patino later told The Dodo. “They were destined to die…”

As they gathered the fragile pups into their arms, it became immediately clear how dire the situation was. The puppies’ tiny bodies were covered in ticks, their fur was matted, and their bloated bellies were a telltale sign of parasitic infection. They were dangerously underweight, too weak to lift their heads. But Lina and Jennifer didn’t flinch. Their hearts had broken at the sight, but their resolve was stronger. They carried the babies straight to Isla Animal’s refuge center, determined to give them a fighting chance.

“They were malnourished,” Patino explained. “We gave them food, water, antiparasitic medication, and applied tick repellent. The first 24 hours were critical — they were so depressed and lethargic that I genuinely feared they wouldn’t survive. They had no energy at all.”

The puppies, now named Enrique and Beto, were closely monitored around the clock. Every breath they took was a sign of hope. Patino and Ponsford administered gentle care with each passing hour — from offering tiny bites of nourishing food to softly cleaning their skin during medicated baths. Their goal wasn’t just survival; it was recovery, and eventually, a life full of love and comfort.

Despite their initial frailty, something extraordinary began to happen. Just two days after being rescued from the brink of death, Enrique and Beto began showing signs of life that brought tears to their rescuers’ eyes. Their eyes brightened, their tails gave small but sure wags, and their tiny paws moved with more strength each day. By the third day, the change was undeniable.

“They had more energy than ever before,” Patino shared with joy. “We continued with medicated baths to help with their skin, and they’ve been doing great ever since.”

Now approaching two months old, Enrique and Beto are transforming into the playful, loving puppies they were always meant to be. They’ve shed the parasites and ticks that once clung to their frail bodies, and they’re finally getting the nutrients they need to grow. Every meal they eat, every nap they take, and every game of playful chasing they engage in is a small victory — a reminder of how far they’ve come.

The two brothers have formed an unbreakable bond. When they’re not cuddling up for a nap, they’re tumbling around the refuge center, wagging their tails and yipping at each other in delight. There’s still some growing to do before they’ll be ready for adoption, but in the meantime, they’re making the most of their days — soaking up the affection of everyone who comes into contact with them.

Soon, Beto and Enrique will be ready to receive their first round of puppy vaccines, an important milestone on their road to finding forever homes. Though no one knows what the future holds, one thing is certain: these puppies won’t be forgotten or thrown away ever again. Their early days were marked by abandonment, but the chapters ahead are filled with love, healing, and hope.

For Lina Patino and Jennifer Ponsford, seeing the pups thrive is the greatest reward. Their hearts ached when they first saw Enrique and Beto, discarded like trash in the unforgiving Colombian heat. But now, each wag of the tail, each playful bark, feels like a thank you.

“They counted on luck and met angels,” Patino said softly. And in this case, those angels came in the form of two women who simply refused to walk away when two little lives were on the line.