A woman working in an Alabama animal shelter has left social media users tears after revealing the sickening condition of four puppies who had never known life outside of a tiny crate.

After working with distressed animals at a shelter for many years, it takes a lot to shock 34-year-old Erica Shubert.

But when the four puppies were brought in three months ago by a passerby, who found their crate in a ditch, she was horrified by what she saw.

Shubert, of Walker County, Alabama, told Newsweek that the puppies, named Victoria, Krill, Moe, and Abrams, were in "terrible condition" when she freed them.

They were estimated to be around 8 weeks old when they were found and it is thought they had lived their whole lives in the cage.

The puppies were incredibly malnourished, covered in urine and feces and had a skin disease called mange. They also appeared to have urine scald, as a result having their skin burned by sitting in their own urine for long periods of time.

"Their fur was stained with urine and feces, they all had sarcoptic mange, their ribs were showing, they were dehydrated," Shubert said.

"Their paw pads were worn down to the quick as well, which seemed to be from standing in urine for too long. I can't be positive without evidence, but that's what it looked like."

The crate was bent out of shape, which Shubert thinks is a sign that it was tossed into the ditch by the dogs' previous owners.

"I'm unsure how long the dogs were in the crate, but the level of staining on these puppies would indicate that they had probably always lived in a crate," Shubert continued.

"The burns went all the way through their paw pads, the white of their fur was brown, and the smell was terrible. Even after a bath, they were still stained, and the smell was still there. You could also tell they'd always lived in the kennel because you could give them food and they would still eat their own feces."

Shubert wasted no time in bathing the dogs, thought to be Pit Bull and Plott Hound mixes, and they received rapid medical attention.

They needed deworming, vaccines for kennel cough, flea prevention, and treatment for scabies. They received medical baths every five days also, which helped with their urine scald.

Understandably, the puppies were very nervous and it took some time for them to warm to Shubert. For the most part, once they realized she was there to help, they became "super sweet" and were grateful to her.

Krill was particularly scared around people, as he even tried to bite shelter staff at first, but he too learned to love the volunteers.

The dogs spent about a month in the shelter's care before being transferred to a rescue center where they were placed in foster homes. Despite a difficult start to their lives, the dogs are doing so better now and are progressing every day.

Shubert told Newsweek: "The last update I got, they were socializing very well, they've gained weight and grown even more. Some of them are even working on potty training, and they're doing great."

The Social Media Reaction

Shubert often uses social media to show people the realities of working with shelter animals in need of a loving home.

Last week, she posted a video on TikTok (@stellatherescuepup) about the "terrified" puppies who had been living in a cage their entire lives. The clip went viral with over 204,100 views and more than 13,500 likes in just a few days.

While no one likes to see animals in such a harrowing condition, Shubert hopes her videos will educate more people about the growing number of shelter animals in need of help.

"These puppies were in a terrible situation, but we see this daily in an Alabama animal shelter. This is why I post these things, to bring awareness to the animal crisis in the south," Shubert said.

"Things don't have to be this way. If you see a situation like this, say something. I know that not all areas are ahead in animal care, but sometimes you have to put your foot down and say you're tired of it. Reach out to your local officials and demand change because we must be the voice for the voiceless," she added.

Since the video went viral on TikTok, it has generated over 380 comments as many people thanked Shubert for helping them.

One comment reads: "It kills me inside seeing how loved my babies are and knowing not every dog gets that same love. I physically hurt for all the unloved, abused animals on this earth."

Another TikToker wrote: "I cried. From one dog lover to another, thank you for saving those babies."

While another person added: "Omg poor little things. How can people be so cruel is beyond me. I hope they find lovely homes."

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