Huddled in a ditch by the side of a rural road in Louisa County, Iowa, a badly sunburned pup named Willow waited for a miracle.
When local officers finally found Willow, they raced her over to experts at It Takes A Village, an animal rescue and resource group.
Meeting Willow, foster coordinator Karen Hartman almost couldn’t believe her eyes.
“She was devastated,” It Takes A Village president and founder Meagan Koehl.
Heading to Muscatine Vet Hospital for emergency care, Willow pressed into Hartman’s side, seemingly anxious for affection.
Soon, Willow was in foster care with Hartman, receiving medicated baths and treatment for her condition.
Though they speculated on her breed based on the shape of her paws, rescuers still had no definitive idea as to what type of dog Willow was. But as the days went by, Willow’s true colors began peeking through.
“We started seeing signs of hair growth,” Koehler said. “It was still spotty at first. So we really didn’t expect that she would have a full recovery of this big, beautiful coat.”
Willow’s hair only kept growing. The light returned to her eyes, and she regained her strength. Finally, she embodied her true self — a gorgeous, fluffy great pyrenees.
“We would have never in a million years guessed that she was going to be this huge pyrenees,” Koehler said.
By the time Willow’s coat fully regrew, she was already living with her new family, including her loving mom and dog siblings. Now, Willow spends her days lounging on fluffy carpets, far from the ditch where she was found.
It Takes A Village rescuers are so grateful to have law enforcement officers in their area who care about stray animals and who are willing to go above and beyond to make sure these pets get the help they need. In Willow’s case, it made a world of difference.
“We cannot adequately convey how grateful we are to Deputy Archer and the Louisa County Sheriff’s Office for their commitment to helping animals in need throughout their county!” It Takes A Village wrote in a Facebook post. “This life was saved because of you!”
