Over the last few months, floods have been a deadly, though common, occurrence throughout India. Already killing at least 70 people, they’ve proven deadly to man, and if it weren’t for the courage of one mother dog, several puppies would have perished, too.

When floodwaters rose in Chennai, one stray dog got separated from her babies. Watch as she swims through a garbage-infested river in an effort to find and save the pups.

Watching from above, the onlookers no doubt wished they could have helped this mom. But after she helped her first little one, they could tell she had everything under control — according to witnesses she saved three more!