Thyago Costa Silva, a professional cyclist from Brazil, was out training with friends. But a shocking, saddening sight in the middle of nowhere led them to change course.

The cyclists found five puppies, buried in a hole: “Someone dug the hole and left them there to die,” Tyago told The Dodo. “They were weak and couldn’t escape.”

The cyclists were shocked and saddened by the sight, and couldn’t believe that anyone would do something so cruel to the tiny puppies.

They knew they had to help. After pulling over, they gave them food and water. A video posted on Tyago’s Instagram account shows him giving water from his bottle to the very thirsty pups.

“They just wanted to survive,” he said.

After providing them with water, the cyclists went even further, putting the puppies in their shirts and biking 12 miles to get them to help.

Tyago went even further, taking the five puppies into his own home to further care for them.

“It was very emotional,” Tyago told The Dodo. “I took them home and took care of them.”

He still couldn’t believe the cruelty they faced but hoped that the puppies could soon find new homes. “I hope they get a home, get owners who have a real heart,” he wrote on Instagram.

Thankfully, the puppies’ sad story has a happy ending: they have all found their forever homes, thanks to Tyago’s help.

“They will have a better life,” the cyclist told The Dodo. “I’m sure they will be well taken care of. This makes me so happy.”

While Tyago says he’s received a lot of praise and attention for saving the dogs, he says it was just the right thing to do.

“I didn’t do it for the media, I don’t need it, I did it for love, I did it as any other good-hearted human being would,” he wrote on Instagram.

“Thank you so much to everyone and to God for giving me a better day and an opportunity to experience this, it was magical and I would do it as many times as possible.”