Covered in thick black tar and struggling to breathe, a litter of stray puppies in southern India beat the odds thanks to quick action from local animal lovers and rescuers.

In the town of Tirur, located in Kerala, India, a heartbreaking scene unfolded when eight stray puppies were found completely coated in toxic tar.

The barrel had apparently toppled over while the puppies were sleeping nearby, trapping them in the sticky mess for nearly eight hours. Immobile and barely breathing, their chances of survival looked slim.