Three defenceless pups were imprisoned in an impenetrable cage of rock-solid tar, their bodies immobilised by the harsh material that threatened to smother them, in a heartbreaking ordeal that tried the boundaries of fortitude. Their cries of terror, drowned and immobile, reverberated through the stillness of their situation.

A committed rescue crew worked nonstop for many hours over the course of several painful days to soften the tar, their hands kneading oil into the hardened surface and giving the puppies soothing baths in an attempt to release them from their sticky jail. Working to rescue the scared puppies from their terrible situation, every second seemed to last forever.

The pups, nevertheless, resisted giving up in the face of overwhelming circumstances. Their unflinching tenacity was a ray of hope among the darkness that tried to swallow them as they bravely and determinedly weathered the experience with spirits as strong as steel.

And then, at last, the moment of release came, after many hours of laborious work. The rescue crew watched, relieved and crying, as the pups were released from their tar-coated jail and had the sticky material that had imprisoned them for so long removed from their bodies.

The puppies’ spirits shot skyward as they emerged from the depths of their suffering, their tails bouncing with delight as they relished the warmth of their rescuers’ embrace. Because they understood at that same instant that the unfailing commitment and compassion of those who had saved them had given them a second shot at life.

And after the film of their amazing rescue went viral, the amazing bravery and compassion shown by the courageous puppies and their rescuers brought people all around the world to tears. It was a reminder that miracles do indeed occur when we least expect them and a monument to the ability of love and kindness to overcome even the worst of situations.

See the incredible journey of three pups who, in the face of unfathomable hardship, never gave up hope by watching to the very end. You will be moved to tears and motivated to think that miracles can happen.