Four newborn puppies were found frozen to death Sunday in the bed of a pickup truck in Gatineau, Que.

This boxer gave birth to nine puppies in the bed of a truck in Gatineau, Que., but four puppies froze to death. (Supplied photo)

An employee with the animal rescue agency, the SPCA of western Quebec, came upon a litter and their mother, who was still giving birth.

She had heard cries from one of the organization's trucks. When she opened the box of the truck, there was a two-year-old boxer who had already given birth to eight puppies.

The mother and the four surviving puppies were brought inside the SPCA and treated, which is when another puppy was born. The total litter was nine puppies and five of them, plus the mother, survived and are currently in good health.

The SPCA estimates the puppies were in the pickup truck for at least 10 hours before they were found. The pet owner could face criminal charges, the SPCA added.

Centre employees decided to name all the puppies after characters in the movie The Lion King.