Modesto, California – When a homeowner discovered the pregnant Pug-mix dog Millie under his porch in early August, he was amazed a second time when he saw her puppies. How did this happen?!

The black‑and‑white speckled babies of the pug-looking mother appeared completely different from their mom.

To get professional help quickly, the finder contacted Oakdale Tiny Paws Rescue with a photo of the animals.

"When I saw the picture, the first thing I said was, 'Omg, she has 2 little cows,'" a spokesperson for Oakdale Tiny Paws Rescue told The Dodo in an interview.

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Of course, the puppies' surprising appearance was no deterrent.

Oakdale Tiny Paws Rescue immediately agreed to take all three dogs into their care, soon finding them a foster placement.

The other shelter staff could hardly believe their eyes either. Millie's love for her babies was never in question. She cared for the little ones as best she could.

"Millie is a good mama [and] has been feeding them without pause," the spokesperson said to the animal site. Her puppies Tillie and Bessie are "chunky, healthy little girls."

To find out why they look so different from their mother, the shelter is using a specific method.

They hope to secure donations there to be able to conduct a DNA test. Until then, the team has no choice but to speculate.

However, in the coming weeks, the puppies’ physical development should provide clues about which breed their father belongs to.

In the meantime, the caretakers are mainly focused on ensuring the well‑being of this unusual dog family.

"We will continue to share pics [and] pupdates as our moo moo's grow [and] thrive," the shelter employee concluded.