Dumpster puppies

GRANTS PASS, Ore. -- A shocking discovery at the Grants Pass Walmart, shoppers trying to drop off their recycling found a litter of eight puppies that were left for dead in a dumpster outside the store.

The Rogue Valley Humane Society said no one knows who left them but an anonymous family who found the pups, couldn't leave them there and brought them to the shelter.

The puppies, who are about nine weeks old, were in a box soaked with urine and feces.

Employees at the shelter said the puppies were found in bad shape but are now being nursed back to health.

"These guys were in critical condition, it was a matter of if they were out there another half an hour they probably would have died," said Margaret Varner. "Now it's just up to us to make sure they get socialized and healthy and get a lot of snuggle time in so we can make sure they live happy lives."

The puppies now have room to roam at the Humane Society with plenty of food, water and toys.

The pups should be ready for adoption in about a month.

Meanwhile, 22 of the cats found at a Grants Pass home a few weeks ago, are now ready for adoption at the shelter.

Three are still struggling with viral issues and are not ready for adoption.

Josephine County has taken in animals from five recent animal hoarding cases.

The 22 cats are just a third of the cats taken from one home.