Jan 23, 2017

In the midst of snow and rubble, hope in the form of three fluffy white puppies. The trio was found in an air pocket from an avalanche that hit a hotel in the Italian Alps. Fireman Fabio Jerman called them “an important sign of life which gives us hope,” AFP reports.

: A handout picture released on January 23, 2017 by the Corpo Nazionale Soccorso Alpino e Speleologico (CNSAS) shows a rescue team carrying puppies found at the avalanche-hit Hotel Rigopiano, near the village of Farindola, on the eastern lower slopes of the Gran Sasso mountain. Fireman Fabio Jerman said three puppies had been found alive today in one of the air pockets under the rubble, which he said was “an important sign of life which gives us hope”. Italian rescuers pulled nine survivors from the hotel hit by an avalanche on January 18, 2016 and continue to search the 23 people still trapped under the ruins. A sixth victim was pulled out of the rubble and snow yesterday. (AFP PHOTO / CNSAS / Handout)

: A handout picture released on January 23, 2017 by the Italian Firemen “Vigili del Fuoco” shows a fireman carrying a puppy found at the avalanche-hit Hotel Rigopiano, near the village of Farindola, on the eastern lower slopes of the Gran Sasso mountain. Fireman Fabio Jerman said three puppies had been found alive today in one of the air pockets under the rubble, which he said was “an important sign of life which gives us hope”. Italian rescuers pulled nine survivors from the hotel hit by an avalanche on January 18, 2016 and continue to search the 23 people still trapped under the ruins. A sixth victim was pulled out of the rubble and snow yesterday. (AFP PHOTO / AFP PHOTO AND Vigili del Fuoco)

: A handout picture released on January 23, 2017 by the Italian Firemen “Vigili del Fuoco” shows firemen carrying puppies found at the avalanche-hit Hotel Rigopiano, near the village of Farindola, on the eastern lower slopes of the Gran Sasso mountain. Fireman Fabio Jerman said three puppies had been found alive today in one of the air pockets under the rubble, which he said was “an important sign of life which gives us hope”. Italian rescuers pulled nine survivors from the hotel hit by an avalanche on January 18, 2016 and continue to search the 23 people still trapped under the ruins. A sixth victim was pulled out of the rubble and snow yesterday. (AFP PHOTO / AFP PHOTO)

: A handout picture released on January 23, 2017 by the Italian Firemen “Vigili del Fuoco” shows a fireman carrying a puppy found at the avalanche-hit Hotel Rigopiano, near the village of Farindola, on the eastern lower slopes of the Gran Sasso mountain. Fireman Fabio Jerman said three puppies had been found alive today in one of the air pockets under the rubble, which he said was “an important sign of life which gives us hope”. Italian rescuers pulled nine survivors from the hotel hit by an avalanche on January 18, 2016 and continue to search the 23 people still trapped under the ruins. A sixth victim was pulled out of the rubble and snow yesterday. / (AFP PHOTO / AFP PHOTO AND Vigili del Fuoco)

: A firefighter kisses one of the three puppies that were found alive in the rubble of the avalanche-hit Hotel Rigopiano, near Farindola, central Italy, Monday, Jan. 22, 2017. Emergency crews digging into an avalanche-slammed hotel were cheered Monday by the discovery of three puppies who had survived for days under tons of snow, giving them new hope for the 23 people still missing in the disaster. (Italian Firefighters via AP)

: Firefighters hold three puppies that were found alive in the rubble of the avalanche-hit Hotel Rigopiano, near Farindola, central Italy, Monday, Jan. 22, 2017. Emergency crews digging into an avalanche-slammed hotel were cheered Monday by the discovery of three puppies who had survived for days under tons of snow, giving them new hope for the 23 people still missing in the disaster. (Italian Firefighters via AP)

: A Carabinieri (Italian paramilitary police) officer officer holds one of three puppies that were found alive in the rubble of the avalanche-hit Hotel Rigopiano, near Farindola, central Italy, Monday, Jan. 22, 2017. Emergency crews digging into an avalanche-slammed hotel were cheered Monday by the discovery of three puppies who had survived for days under tons of snow, giving them new hope for the 23 people still missing in the disaster. (Alessandro Di Meo/ANSA via AP)

: Police officers hold three puppies that were found alive in the rubble of the avalanche-hit Hotel Rigopiano, near Farindola, central Italy, Monday, Jan. 22, 2017. Emergency crews digging into an avalanche-slammed hotel were cheered Monday by the discovery of three puppies who had survived for days under tons of snow, giving them new hope for the 23 people still missing in the disaster. (Alessandro Di Meo/ANSA via AP)

: Rescuers hold three puppies that were found alive in the rubble of the avalanche-hit Hotel Rigopiano, near Farindola, central Italy, Monday, Jan. 22, 2017. Emergency crews digging into an avalanche-slammed hotel were cheered Monday by the discovery of three puppies who had survived for days under tons of snow, giving them new hope for the 23 people still missing in the disaster. (Alessandro Di Meo/ANSA via AP)

: An Italian Forestry Corp officer officer holds one of three puppies that were found alive in the rubble of the avalanche-hit Hotel Rigopiano, near Farindola, central Italy, Monday, Jan. 22, 2017. Emergency crews digging into an avalanche-slammed hotel were cheered Monday by the discovery of three puppies who had survived for days under tons of snow, giving them new hope for the 23 people still missing in the disaster. (Alessandro Di Meo/ANSA via AP)