In June, It Takes A Village Animal Rescue in Muscatine, Iowa, stepped in to save over 60 animals from a neglect case.
Among them was a tiny black puppy named Ralph.
At first, rescuers thought he’d simply need a safe foster home to grow strong. But soon, Ralph’s foster parent noticed something troubling.
He wasn’t standing or walking like other pups his age. A vet visit revealed the heartbreaking truth: Ralph had swimmer syndrome — a rare and often deadly condition that left his limbs too weak to support him.
“This is such a devastating and rare deformity that affects newborn puppies, causing their rear limbs to be too weak for them to stand,” It Takes A Village wrote in a Facebook post at the time. “It is also characterized by the pup having a very flat chest [and] rib cage because of the constant flat-lying position they are in. The resulting complications can be deadly.”
Unable to walk, Ralph dragged himself across the floor, his chest flattening from the constant pressure. His prognosis was grim.
But Ralph wasn’t alone. The rescue moved him into a specialized foster home where his new family refused to give up on him.
They built therapy equipment, sewed custom braces, and rallied an entire community to help this determined little pup.
“Ralph had an entire village behind him,” the rescue wrote. “That’s what love in action looks like.”
Day by day, therapy and care worked their magic. Slowly, Ralph grew stronger. And then, the moment no one dared hope for — Ralph stood up. Soon after, he did the impossible.
He ran.
The once-flat puppy, who was never expected to walk, now happily chases his dad around the house, his tail wagging with joy.
“That little pup who could not walk, who could not stand, who could not sit … now runs,” the rescue shared. “Hope made all the difference.”
Ralph’s journey is more than a miracle — it’s proof of what’s possible when compassion meets determination.
It Takes A Village relies on private donations, grants and adoption fees. To help support other animals like Ralph and ensure their continued care, make a donation to the rescue here.
