8 puppies rescued from under burning car eligible for adoption next month

Eight puppies rescued from under a burning car last week are now receiving care and will be available for adoption next month.

The 5-week-old shepherd-type puppies were rescued last week in the Palmdale area.

Firefighters extinguished the blaze and found the puppies in a box beneath the burning vehicle. They were taken to Los Angeles County Fire Department Station 92 in Littlerock where they were cleaned up before being taken to Los Angeles County Animal Care’s Palmdale shelter.

That shelter put out a call for help to find a place to take in the puppies, which led to Best Friends Animal Society agreeing to care for them at its West L.A. adoption center.

Currently, all eight puppies are being cared for in foster homes and will be available for adoption in early December, officials said. The litter consists of six boys and two girls, and they've all received "life-saving care."

Hundreds of animals end up in area shelters every week, and puppies are particularly vulnerable. Best Friends Animal Society says puppies can easily get sick in a shelter environment, which could ultimately lead to their deaths.

The nonprofit says its mission is to care for at-risk animals and reduce shelter crowding by placing pets into foster care and permanent homes.