Things are not always as they appear to be, and this couldn’t be any more true when it comes to these heartbreaking photos.

In a recent post shared on Imgur, a German Shepherd appears to be hiding in a hole it had dug underneath a grave stone in Novi Beograd, Serbia.

According to “FakeToupet,” the Imgur user who shared the photo, it was believed the dog lying was underneath the gravestone of its owner, but that has since been dubbed a rumour.

Nevertheless, the Imgur post featured several photos, and the story that they tell is one of family and survival.

As you can see, the poor dog was actually a mother who had dug a hole under the grave in order to protect and keep her four tiny puppies warm.

“While it wasn’t ideal, it was the best she could find,” the Imgur post read.

Luckily, animal rescuer Vesna Mihajloski found the dogs and took them home, where they received the care they so desperately needed.

Thanks to Mihajoksi and the rescue team, the canine family began to recover and regain their health.

On her Facebook page, Mihajoski has been posting pictures of their journey. The puppies are seen growing up into “playful, spunky and loved” dogs.

As for the mother, she no longer has to rely on an eternal resting place in order to protect her little ones.

What a happy ending for such a cute canine family.