Willow Weimaraner & American Staffordshire Terrier Mix Arlington, VA

Meet Willow! This stunning pup was rescued with her brother from a very neglectful home. They were originally adopted by a couple from a small rural shelter in Gaston, NC when they were only 5 to 6 months old. Tragically, for 8 months, they were typically locked in a crate all day, not being taken out for walks or potty breaks, and being fed only enough to survive. It's impossible to understand why any human would treat puppies who love them unconditionally and look to them for support this way.

Thankfully, the couple's roommate spoke up and shared her concerns with a local animal advocate, who reached out to our team for help. We got these sweet pups out of that horrible situation within 48 hours, and they are already flourishing in their foster homes. Willow is still a young, adolescent pup and has her whole life ahead of her. That life is well behind her now. Willow is being fostered with another dog and getting regular playdates with the neighbor's dogs and weekly exposure to visiting grandkids (6 - 10 years old). She's great with other dogs and really enjoys the kids..

It's clear that Willow is a naturally social pup, and with a little time, TLC, and exposure to the outside world, she's transitioning into a wonderful family dog. She's also GORGEOUS with her soft, light gray coat and striking hazel eyes. She's already been to the vet and needs to gain a few more pounds, but overall, she is a healthy young dog.

Willow just made her first visit to the family lakehouse and spent the day romping, playing, and exploring the shoreline with WDR alum, Jax, who is a great friend to every foster dog. In less than two weeks in her foster home, Willow's sweet nature and joy for life are emerging. Her foster mom, Cindy, reports she's a very affectionate dog who loves to snuggle. If you start to pet her, she quickly flips over for you to rub her belly and would sit in your lap all day if allowed. She's also getting more playful with her toys and has a passion for stuffed animals. She has excellent house manners and quickly learned to use the doggie door.

Cindy is working with Willow on her leash skills and socialization. Just this week Willow has had multiple outings - a visit to a local park and a popular trail. She passed multiple people with dogs, bikers, and runners with no parking. She went to PetSmart to explore and get a bath and was a model client. Cindy is also doing daily walks in the neighborhood to get her more comfortable with all the new noises and sounds of the outside world. Initially, she would bark when nervous about new things, people, dogs, etc, but we've already seen great improvement with practice.

We are very happy to share this update on Willow. She's a very resilient pup who is doing so well and is evolving into the fabulous pup she was always meant to be. We think Willow will do best with an active family who will continue to work on her socialization and expose her to new things. Preference will be given to adopters who have another social, established pup in the home.

Apply today!

BREED ESTIMATE: Weimaraner/Bully Mix
GENDER: Female
APPROXIMATE WEIGHT: ~ 48lbs
APPROXIMATE AGE: ~ 14 mos
COAT TYPE: short
ADOPTION FEE: $400
OTHER INFO: utd on shots/spayed/microchipped
LOCATION: Centreville, VA

FOR MORE INFO OR TO ADOPT: Please go to https://adopt.worthydog.org and complete the application.

You can also help save dogs like this one by becoming a foster, providing a rescue dog with a temporary home, and giving them the love and care they need until they are permanently adopted. Every person who fosters is directly responsible for saving the life of a dog because we can only save as many dogs as we have foster families available to welcome them into their homes. If you think you might be interested in becoming a foster and want to learn more, please go to https://foster.worthydog.org and fill out an application.

Worthy Dog Rescue is an all-volunteer, foster-based rescue that primarily adopts to families in the DC Metro area.