Shelter Rescues Dog Found 'Freezing to Death' Amid Arctic Storm in Detroit

A rescue center in Michigan is pleading for support after taking in a young stray who was discovered sleeping in the snow during the extreme Arctic storm.

On January 15, Detroit Pit Crew Dog Rescue received an urgent call about a pup who was freezing to death while laying helplessly in the snow. Volunteers rushed to the scene where they saw Willow, who is believed to be around 8 months old, and they instantly took her into their care.

Theresa Sumpter, the executive director of Detroit Pit Crew Dog Rescue, told Newsweek that Willow was hypothermic and very thin when they found her. They had to gradually help her acclimatize and build up her strength slowly, but thankfully she is doing better already.

"We aren't sure how long she was outside, but we do know it was long enough for her to try to seek shelter from the extremely low temperatures," Sumpter said. "We slowly made sure to warm her up and give her some food."

This comes after the National Weather Service issued alerts for Alaska, California, Colorado, Idaho, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New York, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming. The Arctic blast brought dangerously cold temperatures, and as Newsweek previously reported, several areas have seen record low temperatures this week.

This extreme freeze can be equally dangerous for dogs, as PetMD says anything under 32 degrees Fahrenheit can be a health risk to thinly coated dogs, or those who are young, old, or sick. If temperatures drop below 20 degrees Fahrenheit, as they have in some areas in recent days, dogs can develop hypothermia or frostbite if they are outside for too long.

The Social Media Reaction

Following Willow's discovery, the rescue shared a picture of her on their Facebook page, pleading with followers for support and donations, as there are simply so many dogs in need of their help.

The Facebook post, which has more than 2,200 reactions and has been shared almost 700 times at the time of writing, said that they were "heartbroken to see this poor girl so cold and scared." While the picture of Willow undoubtedly devastated many, Sumpter added that the reaction was nothing short of amazing, and countless people have offered to help.

Thankfully, after being rescued, Willow "is doing much better and has come out of her shell." Once she is ready, the rescue center has organized for a trainer to work with Willow and teach her basic commands, since she was previously a stray with no training or interaction.

"Rarely are the dogs we rescue ready to be adopted right away as most have suffered abuse and trauma. So, we want to make sure that we're setting her up for success and preparing her for a better life, far away from the cold streets of Detroit," Sumpter told Newsweek.

"If you see a dog that needs help, please say something. Animals can't speak for themselves, so we must be their advocates," Sumpter added.

With more than 260 comments on the Facebook post, social-media users were quick to share how heartbroken they were for poor Willow. One comment reads: "my heart just sank for this poor pup. So happy she was rescued and is now safe and warm."

Another person posted: "This is so upsetting and heartbreaking, but I am so glad you were able to rescue her."

Others praised the shelter for its incredible work, as one Facebook user commented: "You all are heroes! Saving so many lives! Thank you!"

Do you have any amazing rescue stories you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.