Litter of seven puppies rescued from Indiana dumpster

INDIANAPOLIS, Dec. 21 (UPI) -- An Indiana police officer rescued a litter of seven puppies from a dumpster in freezing weather by wrapping them in his coat.

Every Dog Counts Rescue shared a photo of the puppies swaddled in the officer's heavy duty jacket while walking in the frigid sleet.

"Responding to a call for cries coming from a dumpster, Officer Charleswood found 7 tiny newborns, umbilical stumps still attached. This weather is dangerous for anyone, but for these tiny babies, it would have quickly become deadly," the rescue group said. "He took off his heavy duty jacket and wrapped them up carefully, keeping them warm while some creative arrangements were made to find these babies a safe place to land so late at night."

Tara Harris of Every Dog Counts Rescue is unsure what breed the puppies are, but speculates they were likely born the same day Charleswood discovered them, she told Fox 59.

The puppies had their first vet visit on Tuesday and Harris said they have been bottle feeding and improving in condition since their rescue.

"I think it's inspiring to see that will to live...They're fighting to survive," she said.

Charleswood already owns two rescue dogs but said he would keep the possibility of adopting one of the newly rescued pups open.

"It's possible. I'm going to leave it at a possibility right now," he said. "You've seen these puppies in their worst time and you would like to see them get to the point where they're raised up, nice, healthy, happy dogs."