A Las Vegas woman out on a morning walk discovered three pit bulls hidden behind a dumpster in a business park near Eastern and Rochelle on Wednesday, May 28, rescuing a mother dog and her two puppies from a covered crate with no food or water.

Ulli Brokate was walking her dog, Leia, when she heard barking in an area she described as not having many pedestrians.

She followed the sound to find three chocolate-colored pit bulls left behind a dumpster at a hair salon, hidden under a sheet with rocks and a wooden board placed on top of the crate.

“When I heard the bark, I expected one dog, which already would have been bad enough, but when I saw those three, especially the babies, I was so shocked,” Brokate said.

“I knew that moment I had to do something to help them.”

Brokate called Paws Patrol LV, who responded to the scene. Clark County Animal Protection Services then transported all three dogs to The Animal Foundation, arriving around 9 a.m. Wednesday.

All three dogs are now doing well at the shelter. One of the puppies, named Deacon by Animal Foundation staff, has already been adopted.

The second puppy, Lila, is still available for adoption at The Animal Foundation. The mother, now named Alma, is on hold until she is spayed.

Metro police referred questions about a possible investigation to Clark County Animal Protection Services, which had not responded to a request for comment as of Friday, reports Fox5 Las Vegas.

The rescue comes as Las Vegas shelters continue to face record pressure. Dog surrenders in Las Vegas are at a ten-year high, and The Animal Foundation has described the situation as a breaking point, taking in nearly 90 animals a day.

If you find a dog in distress or need to surrender a pet, The Animal Foundation’s pet support hotline is available at 702-760-PETS, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.