‘Puppies this young need immediate, around-the-clock care, and every minute truly matters,’ the San Marcos Regional Animal Shelter said

Nine newborn puppies were left in a tub labeled “Free Puppies” to fend for themselves.

On Jan. 4, the San Marcos Regional Animal Shelter (SMRAS) in San Marcos, Texas, received nine newborn puppies found in a large tub marked “Free Puppies.”

“It’s the kind of situation that stops you in your tracks — heartbreaking and incredibly urgent. Puppies this young need immediate, around-the-clock care, and every minute truly matters,” the animal shelter captioned a social media post that included pictures of the puppies.

The abandoned pups are now receiving care at Love and Puppy Paws, Orphaned Annies, and Foster2Forever.

“We’re also so grateful to everyone in our community who shared the post, reached out, and offered help. Moments like this are a reminder that rescue really does take a village, and when people come together, lives are changed,” SMRAS wrote.

The animal shelter thanked its staff who cared for the animals “during a critical window of time.”

“That level of dedication is everything for lives this fragile. Thank you to everyone who showed up when it mattered most,” SMRAS said.

Photos include a shot of the tub the puppies were dumped in and a group image of the puppies on a blanket. The animals are light brown with white patches and dark brown with white patches. Other pictures show the puppies being fed with a bottle.

The bin containing the puppies also had “can’t afford, sorry,” written on it, according to SMRAS.

Many people in the comments section asked about the puppies’ mother, prompting the animal shelter to express that they “understand and share the concern.”

“We’ve followed up as much as we’re able, and unfortunately we don’t know where mom dog is or the situation that caused these puppies to be away from mom and left in a box,” SMRAS wrote in a comment.

“We know this situation brings up a lot of frustration and anger, and those feelings are completely understandable. We want to be transparent that there is very little information available to us,” the animal shelter continued.

“This post was never meant to shame anyone – rather express the extreme gratitude we have for our community and partnerships for their quick action and willingness to answer a call,” the Texas facility added.

SMRAS said the puppies likely won’t be available for adoption for about eight weeks. The rescue groups will share adoption information when it is available.

According to the American Kennel Club, the best age to bring home a puppy is between 8 and 10 weeks.

Puppies removed from their litters early are more likely to exhibit behavioral problems, such as aggression or anxiety, according to the AKC.