Homeless dogs are often terrified of people. Most likely they’ve been abused, abandoned and have had to scavenge for food and water. Many go without any shelter at all. Two such dogs found shelter in a sewer. Unfortunately, one did not survive a storm. With another storm brewing, rescuers knew they had to act fast to save the remaining dog.

Those rescuers were Annie Hart, the founder of Rescue from the Hart, an animal rescue group in L.A. and Eldad Hagar, Hope for Paws founder. Working together, the two rescued the dog, who Hart named Bitty, from the sewer and his likely demise.

Clearly malnourished and terrified the video shows Bitty cowering in a corner. Slowly Hagar gets close to Bitty and eases him enough to get him out of the sewer tunnels. He brings him to Hart, who is waiting with a towel. Still scared, Bitty is seen wrapped in the towel in Hart’s lap, on their way to the rescue facility. It is there that Bitty is given a bath and food.

Three-year-old Bitty is now being housed at The Forgotten Dog Foundation, a foster facility, while he awaits adoption and a forever home.