Man Rescues 8 Puppies From Trashcan 5 Years After Saving 2 Dogs from a Trashcan in the Same Park (Exclusive)

Eight puppies who started their new year dumped in a garbage can are getting a second chance after an animal rescue volunteer found the dogs abandoned on New Year’s Day.

Matt McEntire, a dedicated longtime volunteer for the Humane Society of North Texas (HSNT), discovered the tiny puppies in a trashcan at Crestwood Park in Fort Worth, Texas.

"Thanks to the compassion and quick action of one of our amazing volunteers, these little ones are now safe, warm, and on their way to recovery," Cassie Davidson, the senior director of marketing, communications & public relations for the Humane Society, tells PEOPLE. "This story is a powerful reminder of the impact kindness and community support can have on lives in need."

Related: 23 Dogs, Including Puppies as Young as 5 Weeks Old, Rescued from Tenn. Trailer Home After Being Severely Neglected

The man found the black and brown pups, estimated to be seven to eight weeks old and shepherd/pit bull mixes, huddled together in the small enclosed space. McEntire, who has volunteered with HSNT for 12 years, was walking his dog, Dublin, in Crestwood Park when Dublin started to pull on his leash.

"I knew that he noticed something," McEntire tells PEOPLE. "So I got up, and then I heard the little yelping from the puppies."

Coincidentally, this isn't the first time in McEntire's history with the Humane Society that he's rescued puppies from a trashcan in the park.

"Five years ago, I found two puppies in a trashcan at the same park, two German Shepherds," McEntire says. "I put it on Facebook, and the two of them were gone in a couple of hours."

Related: Rescue Flight Saves 75 Homeless Pets and Flies Them to Their New Families on New Year's Eve

After discovering the puppies, McEntire faced the challenge of getting the dogs to safety at his home, which was more than a mile away.

"Dublin doesn't like other dogs. He doesn't like any dog at all, but for some reason, the devil didn't even pass one bite at them puppies," McEntire says of his dog. "It was the strangest thing I've ever come across. Because I was afraid, he would start to bite them. But he didn't."

He led the puppies back home, bringing them to his insulated garage with a heat lamp. After they had a quick meal, McEntire says the little dogs were fast asleep.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

In honor of McEntire's Irish descent, HSNT gave all of the puppies Irish monikers — Phineas, Guinness, Dublin, O'Malley, Lorcan, Finnegan, Paddy, and Keeva.

Davidson tells PEOPLE that some of the puppies are still sick with upper respiratory infections, making them currently ineligible for adoption.

"As long as they stay healthy, a few will be ready for adoption this week," Davidson shares. "It's a moving target with such small pups; one day, they are fine, and the next, they have spiraled. We're doing our very best to save their little lives."

Read the original article on People