Local firefighters made an unexpected discovery when they responded to a call about puppies trapped in a storm drain in Colorado Springs. Upon arriving at the scene, they found eight tiny black puppies huddled together in the damp, dirty hole. However, upon closer inspection, it became apparent that these were not Labrador puppies, as initially thought, but instead were red fox kits, or vixen cubs.

The jogger who first discovered the kits had heard their cries and had searched the area around the storm drain, but she could not locate their mother. Fearing the worst, she called the non-emergency line, requesting assistance from the fire department.

Upon arriving at the scene, the firefighters tried to open the lid of the storm drain, but it was rusted shut. They were able to pry it open with a crowbar,

but they were cautious not to startle the kits or their mother, who they assumed was nearby. However, after searching the area, they were unable to locate the mother fox, which raised concerns about whether she had abandoned her kits or if she had been injured or otherwise incapacitated.

The kits, who were only a few days old, were in a critical condition, as they were cold, damp, and malnourished. The firefighters knew that they needed to get them to a veterinary clinic as soon as possible, where they could receive the care and attention they needed to survive.