Jessie Tussing, coordinator of Heartland Humane Society , has handled plenty of unusual rescues over the years. But one Friday evening, she embarked on a mission that completely blindsided her.

A call came in about a litter of puppies abandoned beneath a barn. Without a second thought, Jessie grabbed her keys, rallied her two teenage daughters, and set out to investigate.

When they arrived, the trio didn’t waste a moment. Armed with flashlights, they combed through every dark corner of the old barn. With the homeowner’s blessing, they pried up a loose floorboard—and staring back at them were the “puppies” in question.

Not Your Average Puppies

When Jessie carried the little ones into the daylight, she realized something didn’t quite add up.

“I was running through my brain trying to

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