Sister Dogs Separated as Puppies Reunite and Help Save Third Sibling from Euthanasia Thanks to DNA Test (Exclusive)

An Embark dog DNA test connected Michigan rescue dog Winnie with a sibling living nearby, and another shelter dog in Texas

• Rescue dog siblings Winnie and Joplin reunited after getting split up at a Texas shelter because of a DNA test

• After the dogs' owners connected, they learned of a third pup related to their dogs who was still looking for a home at a kill shelter

• Joplin's owner decided to rescue and adopt this third dog so all of the related pups could spend time together

Three close-knit canines from Texas, separated from one another as young dogs, are continuing their story together in Michigan after a DNA test helped reunite the animals.

The happy ending started when Jackie Novak of Capac, Mich., and her boyfriend, Josh Nemecek, decided to adopt a rescue dog as a companion for their Labrador retriever, Ellie. After meeting several dogs through the Almost Home Animal Rescue League of West Bloomfield, Mich., the couple decided to adopt "sweet" Winnie, a pup brought to the Michigan rescue from an overcrowded shelter in Texas.

"She is a very playful, loving, loyal, and outgoing dog," Novak tells PEOPLE about her new pup.

Before adopting Winnie, Novak and Nemecek purchased an Embark dog DNA test because they "loved the idea of finding out the true breed and background of whatever rescue dog fit our family best."

Winnie took the DNA test shortly after arriving at her new home. Novak was shocked to find that Winnie was composed of a mix of large-breed dogs, even though the pup was 30 pounds. The pet parent was also surprised to find that Winnie, her shelter dog from Texas, has a relative dog living nearby in Michigan.

Embark DNA tests include a relative finder feature that alerts you if dogs directly related to your tested pet have also submitted DNA tests to Embark.

After learning Winnie had a close relative living in Michigan, Novak was in "total disbelief, and I cried!" She also reached out to the related dog's owner, Andrea Groom, to learn more.

"We reached out because we were excited to learn more about Winnie's past and family, As well as exchange photos of the girls to compare them," Novak says.

Groom says she was also "excited" to learn her dog Joplin had a relative nearby. She adopted Joplin after fostering the dog, who relocated to Project Hope Animal Rescue in Mich. from an overcrowded shelter in southern Texas.

"The whole thing had 'foster fail' written all over it from the start. We renamed her Joplin from the first day, her brothers are Hendrix and Bowie, and by the time the boys had fallen in love with her, we realized we had, too, and that she was already home," Groom explains about how Joplin became her permanent pup.

Related: Dog Brothers Reunited Through DNA Test Are Now Helping Each Other with Health Issues (Exclusive)

Like Novak, Groom got a DNA test for Joplin, as she had with her other rescue canines, because "it's fun to see what breeds are in their make-up! Plus, there's the added bonus of finding relatives for fun and health testing for peace of mind."

Once Groom received a message from Novak, she quickly connected and learned more about Winnie's backstory. These friendly chats inspired Groom to dive into Winnie's history and how, like Joplin, she ended up in Michigan after starting in Texas.

"I went down the rabbit hole on Winnie's rescue's Facebook page trying to figure out when she came up from Texas. I came across two posts seeking fosters for both Winnie and Harlow," Groom says of what her research unearthed.

From her searching, Groom discovered that Harlow was likely Winnie's sibling and kennel mate, meaning she was also related to Joplin. Groom also learned that Harlow — Winnie and Joplin's newly discovered sister — was still available for adoption in Texas and was set to be euthanized in the future.

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Groom shared the news with Novak, and both women agreed that they had to do something to save Harlow, the relative of their new dogs.

"We just wanted her to be safe. We also liked the idea of her being adopted out in Michigan so we could plan occasional meet-ups," Groom explains.

"We knew that, with the two of us living in Michigan, we had a chance to save another one of the girls' siblings," Novak adds.

To make this plan a reality, Groom asked the director at Project Hope — the animal rescue where Groom volunteers — "to check with the Texas shelter to see if Harlow was still there."

"She was, and it just so happened that the shelter had a transport coming to the Midwest the following week, and they were stopping in my town! It was like it was meant to be," Groom adds.

Joplin's dog mom agreed to have Harlow transported to her hometown of Lansing so she could foster Harlow alongside her dog relative.

"We did not plan to adopt her initially, or we would have probably renamed her after Stevie Nicks to keep our theme going," Groom says. But according to the animal lover, "it became clear" in just a few weeks that Harlow and Joplin need each other.

Related: Rescue Dog with Two Legs Learns to Move with 'No Limitations,' Now She Needs a Home (Exclusive)

"Harlow spent the first 13 months of her life in a shelter, and she seemed to get all her confidence from Joplin. We decided it was best to keep them together forever," she adds.

Harlow and Joplin are now like "twins," inseparable and infatuated with each other.

"They run around the yard and swim in the pool side-by-side. When lounging on the couch or bed, they are either touching or one is lying on top of the other," Groom says of how Jolpin and Harlow get along today.

The dogs are also good friends with their relative Winnie, who has met up with Groom's canines for a pack playdate.

"I suspected that Harlow and Winnie had been kennelmates. Within about a minute of the reunion, it was clear that this was probably the case. One sniff and those two started playing and chasing each other instantaneously. It took Joplin a minute to get in on the action, but when she did, the three of them had the time of their lives," Groom says of the canine trio's first meeting.

"We never thought we would even see one of Winnie's siblings, let alone meet them! I still can't put into words how incredible it felt! For Winnie, you could tell she remembered them, especially her kennel mate Harlow. They instantly started to run around and play like they were never apart," Novak adds.

The women have future meet-ups planned for the furry friends. They hope the apparent bond between the three dogs inspires others to try finding their rescue dog's relatives through DNA testing.

"We also hope this will help more rescue dogs get adopted and reconnect with their families!" Novak says.

Jenna Dockweiler, DVM, DACT, a veterinarian with Embark, notes that dog DNA tests also provide perks for dog owners by providing information that allows them to be better pet parents.

"Breed ancestry in mixed-breed dogs can help owners better understand why their dogs may be displaying certain behaviors and can help them choose which activities their dog might enjoy. Health predispositions are also important to understand, as there may be actions owners can take before symptoms develop that can help prevent disease entirely or mitigate the disease's impact on their dog," Dockweiler says.

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