“These puppies are full of personality, curiosity, and puppy energy,” the McPherson Animal Shelter said

NEED TO KNOW

Five puppies found abandoned in a bag outside a Kansas Walmart are awaiting adoption
The pups were estimated to be just one week old when they were found and required around-the-clock care from shelter volunteers
The pups, now six weeks old, were reunited with their mom, Shrimpy, when she was brought to the shelter as well

Five puppies found abandoned in the parking lot of a Kansas Walmart are officially ready to find their forever homes.

The pups were discovered in McPherson in May and were promptly taken to the McPherson Animal Shelter, Police Chief Mikel T. Golden with the McPherson Police Department (MPD) tells PEOPLE.

“Animal Shelter Director Emily Sanner and I responded to the scene, as this was not a normal call we usually get. The person handed us a bag with puppies inside it, and we immediately went to work to protect them,” Golden says. “Emily purchased the needed equipment to feed the puppies and to keep them warm.”

“At the McPherson Animal Shelter, Emily set up a bed and feeding station to keep the puppies safe. They were fed every 2 to 3 hours, and since they were tiny, they needed to be stimulated to go to the bathroom,” he continues.

According to Golden, he helped orchestrate a plan with his coworkers and animal shelter technicians, who “immediately volunteered to take shifts taking care of the puppies.”

After kicking off an investigation and reviewing video from Walmart, Golden says, “We followed up on some video footage we reviewed and located the mother of the puppies. We were permitted to take the mother to feed the pups.”

“Our concern was not only feeding the puppies, but keeping the mother from getting an infection or life-threatening ailment from not nursing,” he further explains, adding: “The owner turned over the mother so she could take care of her babies.”

“The mom took to them right away,” McPherson Animal Shelter Director Sanner told ABC affiliate KAKE. “She was super excited.”

Sanner said that the pups were estimated to be about one week old at the time of their rescue, which meant they were especially vulnerable.

“At a week old, they can’t regulate their body temperature,” she explained to the outlet. “They can’t use the bathroom on their own, and they need nutrition. They don’t have their eyes open, and they don’t have their ears open, so they can’t see. They can’t hear.”

Now, at six weeks old, the puppies and their mother — who has since been named Shrimpy — are officially ready to be adopted, according to a Facebook post from the shelter shared on July 22.

The shelter added that a DNA test revealed that the pups — named Piglet, Fawn, Calf, Duckling and Bunny — are “a mix of American Staffordshire Terrier, American Pit Bull Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Siberian Husky, and Rottweiler.”

“These puppies are full of personality, curiosity, and puppy energy,” the shelter said. “They have been handled daily since they were tiny, have received lots of love from staff and volunteers, and are excited to begin their next adventure with families of their own.”

The shelter also expressed gratitude to the McPherson Citizen Journal, a local community news outlet, for starting a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds for the puppies’ care during their time at the shelter

It also thanked those within the community “who donated supplies, volunteered to bottle-feed, shared their story, and cheered these puppies on over the past several weeks.”

“The case is pending charges against the owner,” the MPD’s Golden tells PEOPLE.