“My heart was theirs” ❤️
Three Shar-Pei Puppies Rescued From Beneath a California Freeway
Driving through Long Beach, California, TikTok user Jeanelle Kayy never expected her morning commute to turn into a rescue mission. But when a blur of black fur darted from under a freeway overpass, she hit the brakes — and discovered not one, but three abandoned Shar-Pei puppies huddled in the dirt.
“I just found these poor babies under the freeway,” she said in a TikTok video that quickly went viral. “They’re beautiful Shar-Peis — they’ve clearly been left here.”
It wasn’t clear how long the frightened pups had been surviving beneath the highway, but scattered piles of kibble hinted that locals had been trying to help. Some viewers later confirmed that the trio had been spotted for nearly two weeks, but every rescue attempt had failed.
“They were impossible to catch,” Jeanelle explained in a follow-up post. “Every time someone got close, one would bolt. And they were right under a freeway — you couldn’t risk them running into traffic.”
As Jeanelle’s video spread, it caught the attention of Suzette Hall, founder of Logan’s Legacy 29, a rescue group known for saving hard-to-catch street dogs across Southern California. Within hours, Hall arrived at the overpass armed with humane traps, fresh food, and unshakable determination.
“Their little smushy faces, those scared eyes peeking out at me — I was instantly hooked,” Hall shared later on Facebook. “They had my heart.”
Despite her best efforts, Hall quickly realized the challenge: the puppies already had plenty of food nearby and weren’t tempted by her bait. Still, she refused to give up. With help from another seasoned rescuer who brought a larger trap, they waited quietly — until, one by one, the Shar-Peis stepped inside.
“Miraculously, it worked,” Hall wrote. “They were finally safe.”
Hall rushed the pups to a local veterinary clinic, where exams revealed that they were underweight, their eyes were infected, and their skin needed treatment after weeks of exposure. But despite their condition, the trio — soon named Tuxedo, Coal, and Pepper — were gentle and trusting once they realized they were safe.
“These babies are fragile,” Hall said. “They don’t yet know what love feels like — but they’re about to.”
After their medical care, the three were placed together in a loving foster home. There, the transformation began: the once-fearful puppies started playing, cuddling, and rediscovering joy.
“They’re gaining weight, healing emotionally, and learning to trust again,” Hall wrote. “No more roaring freeways. No more fear. Just peace and love.”
Tuxedo, Coal, and Pepper continue to thrive in foster care — and rescuers hope their forever homes aren’t far away. But for now, they have what they need most: safety, comfort, and a second chance at life.