Irvine, California - Thankfully, a long dog rescue operation has come to a happy end. Veteran rescuer Suzette Hall dubbed the effort "exhausting, but completely worth it."

On Friday, Suzette Hall wrote on Instagram that she got a call about five small dogs that had been dumped on "factory-lined street with hardly any homes."

The rescuer and a friend didn't hesitate to jump into action, but when the women arrived, they found real tragedy: one of the dogs had been hit by a car.

"We didn't make it in time," Hall wrote, adding, "Rest in peace, sweet angel. We would have saved you if we could have."

The poor pooch's death further motivated the rescuers: "Four were still out there… and we weren't giving up."

Hall and her friend set up traps with food for the dogs. "The white one (likely pregnant) had stayed under the same car since she was dumped – starving. She rushed straight into the trap."

Food, it turned out, was the key to catching these frightened dogs.

While the first trap worked immediately, Hall said catching the others was a challenge.

"The tiny chihuahua was beyond terrified – running nonstop, hiding in yards – but hunger brought him back, and he went right into the trap," she explained.

The other two dogs had found shelter under a car.

They would dart out for food, but then quickly run back.

Hall and her friend kept at it for hours. "We weren’t leaving anyone behind," she continued.

Finally, a hot dog snack and seeing his buddies safe in crates did the trick.

"After a long, heartbreaking day… they are all safe. One is limping, they were hot, scared, and starving – but now they have a chance."