Odessa, Ukraine - Even for the experienced Love Furry Friends from Odessa, this dog rescue story was hard to bear.

The Ukrainian animal welfare activists had received a call about a dying puppy that urgently needed help.

On site, they learned that three dogs had already died, but three others were still alive – but the residents had ignored them.

Among the three was the dog that was on the brink of death.

The poor pups were sitting in a crate when one of the dogs put his paw on his dying companion, perhaps to give him some closeness in his final hours.

Olena and her colleagues hurried to take all three four-legged friends to the vet, where they received the next piece of bad news: they were all suffering from canine parvovirus.

Most animals suffering from parvovirus die within the first two to four days, often despite veterinary care. However, if they survive this period, their chances of surviving the disease increase significantly.

However, they soon had to give up hope: it was too late. Two weeks later, the weakest of the puppies passed away.

The other little fighters had made it, though, and were able to move to the Love Furry Friends shelter, where they were greeted happily by many other dogs.

Sandy and Tommy, as they are now called, were also given lots of cuddles by Olena, but the animal rights activist is certain that the little ones miss their mother.

She is said to have been taken away by the veterinary office before the Love Furry Friends arrived with the dogs, but will hopefully be reunited with them soon.