When Harleigh Garcia first saw a photo of a new shelter intake named Brandy, one thought crossed her mind — “I’ve never seen a dog that color before.”
Brandy’s coat appeared to be a dull grayish-brown, like faded velvet. But when Garcia finally met her in person, her heart sank.
Brandy wasn’t gray — she was covered in dirt.
“I was like, ‘Oh my God, it’s just dirt!’” said Garcia, founder and executive director of Border Tails Rescue in Illinois. “I’ve been hoodwinked.”
Brandy and another dog had recently been surrendered to the shelter, both coated in grime and crawling with fleas. No one knows exactly how long Brandy had lived like that, but it was clear she hadn’t known comfort for quite some time.
“I would assume she lived outside,” Garcia said. “Or somewhere extremely filthy — I’ve just never seen a dog that dirty before.”
When it came time for Brandy’s first bath, the young dog looked terrified and drained. Staff gently lathered her in warm water and soap, watching the filth swirl away. It took an hour and a half to reveal the dog hiding beneath the dirt.
And when they finally did, she was unrecognizable.
Brandy’s coat gleamed — soft, fluffy, and snow white.
“She came in looking like a dust bunny,” the rescue joked on Facebook. “But after one good bath… SNOWBALL!”
After her transformation, Brandy received a full medical exam. She was treated for fleas and found to be in good health overall — but vets noticed something unusual: her pupils were different sizes, and she didn’t seem to respond to sound.
“We believe she’s a double merle,” Garcia explained. “That’s when two merle-patterned dogs are bred together, which often leads to all-white coats, blue eyes — and sometimes, hearing loss.”
Even after her bath, Brandy remained cautious. Loud noises and quick hand movements startled her easily, but the staff’s patience and affection slowly worked their magic.
Within days, Brandy began to change. Instead of shrinking away, she started wagging her tail when people approached.
“She’s the sweetest,” Garcia said. “She walks great on a leash, she’s gentle, and she loves cuddles. She gets scared sometimes, but she’s so brave.”
Brandy has since learned to trust through touch and routine. And while she may not be able to hear, she understands kindness perfectly.
Later this week, she’ll be ready for foster-to-adopt, and Garcia hopes her next chapter will be everything she deserves — a warm home, patient humans, and maybe even another friendly dog to show her the world.
“She’s such an adorable, loving girl,” Garcia said with a smile. “Honestly, I’m jealous of whoever gets to call her theirs.”