Bend Police rescued eight puppies in Hollinshead Park on Sunday afternoon after a passerby heard whimpering from behind a trash can and found a littler of puppies in a cardboard box.

All eight of the 1- to 2-week-old puppies survived after officers brought them to the Companion Animal Medical Project, an animal welfare group that works to help pet owners through financial and housing crises. The puppies were then brought to an emergency veterinary clinic where they were bottle fed and placed in incubators to keep them warm, said Bend Police spokesperson Sheila Miller in a release Monday. The puppies appeared clean and well cared for, Miller said. 

The puppies will be cared for by Companion Animal Medical Project until they are old enough to be adopted through the organization’s adoption arm, The Peaches Program. Bend Police also want to remind residents that the Companion Animal Medical Project and other local animal rescue organizations have resources to help pet owners if they experience difficulty caring for their animals. Many also offer free or subsidized spay and neutering services.

Bend Police is now seeking help from anyone who may know who left the puppies in Hollinshead Park. If you have information, contact the non-emergency dispatch center at 541-693-6911.