When rescuers got a tip that crying sounds were coming from a garbage can in Chios, Greece, they weren’t afraid to get dirty and investigate. Upon arriving at the scene and hearing the cries firsthand, one of the team’s volunteers lowered himself right into the deep trash receptacle to help.

He pulled out the plastic bag the sounds were c0ming from, and the team proceeded to unwrap the layers of garbage to reveal not just one kitten, but a whole litter of newborns just a day old.

Thankfully, the kittens were still alive, and are being well cared for until they’re old enough for adoption.

Thank you, rescuers,  for saving these kittens’ lives.