When rescuers spotted a nearly hairless dog huddled in a ditch along a quiet country road in Louisa County, Iowa, they knew she needed help — fast.
Her pink, sunburned skin told a heartbreaking story of neglect, but her soft eyes still held hope.
That dog was Willow.
Local officers rushed Willow to the team at It Takes A Village, an animal rescue and resource group committed to helping the most vulnerable animals. When foster coordinator Karen Hartman met her, the sight was overwhelming.
“She was in rough shape,” said Meagan Koehler, founder and president of It Takes A Village. “We were devastated.”
Despite her condition, Willow leaned against Hartman on the way to Muscatine Vet Hospital, soaking up every bit of comfort she could find. It was clear — this dog was ready to trust again.
Willow’s recovery began immediately. In Hartman’s foster home, she received soothing medicated baths, treatment for her skin, and something even more powerful: love.
At first, rescuers could only guess at Willow’s breed by the shape of her paws. Her bare skin gave no clues. But as the weeks passed, little tufts of fur began to sprout. What started as spotty fuzz grew thicker and silkier each day.
“We were amazed,” Koehler said. “We didn’t expect her to have this beautiful coat — and certainly not that much of it!”
With each passing week, Willow’s transformation was nothing short of magical. The once-bald pup bloomed into a radiant, fluffy Great Pyrenees — nearly unrecognizable from the dog who had once waited alone by the roadside.
Now safe in her forever home, Willow enjoys the soft life she always deserved, napping on cozy rugs and playing with her canine siblings. She’ll never again feel the fear and pain of being abandoned.
Willow’s story wouldn’t have been possible without the compassion of the Louisa County Sheriff's Office and Deputy Archer, who refused to look away.
“This life was saved because of you,” It Takes A Village shared in a heartfelt post.
Want to help more dogs like Willow get a second chance? You can support their rescue work by donating to It Takes A Village here.
