It’s hard to surprise the experienced rescuers at Special Needs Animal Rescue & Rehabilitation Northeast (SNARR)—after 13 years saving animals in their Brewster, New York, neighborhood, they’ve seen just about it all. But a call SNARR received earlier this month about two abandoned puppies was unlike anything they had seen.

“These two innocent puppies have suffered unimaginable cruelty,” SNARR wrote on Facebook. “They were thrown from a moving vehicle into a stream…”

The Labrador mix puppies fell into the stream and struggled to escape. One of the puppies managed to get out of the water, but the other remained half submerged.

Fortunately, a good Samaritan witnessed the event and dropped everything to save the puppies. The kind stranger picked up the babies from the creek and rushed them to SNARR headquarters without hesitation.

The puppies were exhausted, soaked and scared, but medical tests soon confirmed that the good Samaritan had saved them just in time.

“These fragile souls are so lucky to be alive,” SNARR wrote. “Thanks to a compassionate Good Samaritan who bravely rescued them from the creek, they now have a chance to survive.”

The puppies, later named Tucker and Charlotte, were in serious condition when they entered SNARR. In addition to parasites, the brothers had water in their lungs and scratches all over their bodies.

The medical team soon created a treatment plan to address the babies’ physical problems. And, by showing them love every day, they also sought to heal Tucker and Charlotte’s emotional trauma.

“We don’t know what more challenges await them, but we are determined to fight for their lives,” SNARR wrote.

With all the love and attention they received at SNARR, Tucker and Charlotte soon began to feel like themselves again. The puppies’ siblings’ personalities blossomed quickly and they made progress with their medical treatments.

After a few weeks at SNARR, the puppies were ready to go to a foster home together.

They soon found an amazing foster home, where they have been ever since. Now they spend their days snuggled together in warm, fluffy beds, taking turns giving their foster mom kisses.

“Her foster mom says they are absolutely the most adorable babies,” SNARR’s Lauren F. told The Dodo. “They are playful and affectionate… and they get very excited when they come out of the kennel in the morning and see you for the first time!”

Tucker and Charlotte have completed their treatments and have fully recovered from their injuries from the accident. They still get scared by loud noises and sudden movements, as part of their emotional trauma, but their caregivers help them gain confidence every day.

The little ones hope to find an adoptive home soon. In the meantime, they will continue to enjoy time with their foster mom, whose love continues to help them heal.

“They are learning that they are in a safe place now,” Laura said.