As the couple walked through the California woods, slowly approaching its depths, they didn’t know that an adorable surprise awaited them.

As they were walking, they suddenly heard a strange noise coming from the stream, so they decided to check what it was.

Once they reached the creek, they were surprised to see a mother dog giving birth to some adorable puppies.

A loving foster home

The hikers immediately took the mother dog, Ruby, and her three puppies to a local shelter. Eight days later, Hopalong Animal Rescue, a nonprofit animal rescue based in Oakland, California, took them in.

They called Thom McCallum, one of the rescue’s foster parents, and asked him to take care of mom dog Ruby and her puppies, Jax, Tito and Kirby.

As soon as McCallum came to pick them up, he noticed that Ruby was shy and very exhausted.

He welcomed them into his home in Berkeley and did everything he could to make sure they knew they were safe.

Seeing her pups finally able to enjoy the warmth of a home, Ruby felt relieved. She was an amazing mother and was very focused on caring for her little babies.

McCallum was eager to start playing with the adorable pups, but had to wait because they were taking their much-needed naps.

He spent a lot of time with Ruby and tried to bond with her. Ruby allowed him to pet her and they often played together.

Gaining Ruby’s trust

Seeing how affectionate McCallum was with her and her babies, Ruby let her guard down. Her foster dad was glad that the adorable dog was starting to trust him.

“Ruby is finally asleep on my lap and my heart is so full. I was not expecting the end of such a beautiful day,” McCallum wrote on Instagram.

After three weeks, Jax, Kirby, and Tito no longer needed to sleep all the time and became energetic. The playful pups were excited to start exploring the house and playing with their stuffed toys.

They often licked their foster father’s face and showered him with affection.

McCallum had a great time with Ruby and the puppies. When she took them for walks, she would put them in a stroller. The puppies were happiest when they played outside.

Ruby and her puppies have their happy ending

As time went on, Ruby grew fond of her father and wanted to be with him all the time. They became best friends. They formed a strong and unbreakable bond. McCallum knew that he couldn’t be separated from Ruby.

“She loves it here. I love being with her and I think I am the best home for her.”

As soon as Ruby’s puppies reached the age to be adopted, they found a permanent home. The puppies are living their best lives in California.

McCallum’s neighbor adopted Tito, and the sweet pup spends a lot of time with his mom, Ruby.

McCallum and Ruby love each other very much. He is still a foster parent for Hopalong Animal Rescue. Ruby is a very compassionate and loving dog who helps her daddy with his foster fur babies.

I’m thrilled to see that Ruby and all of her puppies have had a happy ending. Surrounded by their loving families, they feel safe and loved.