Three years ago, Mexico City-based rescue La Casa del Mestizo saved a stray dog named Koa from the streets. When Silvia Garcia, the founder of La Casa del Mestizo, found Koa, the pup was in extremely rough shape.
Koa had some kind of severe skin condition
that was clearly extremely painful. She had very little fur and would yowl in pain at even the slightest touch. Unfortunately, her skin issues made her life as a stray, which is difficult for any dog, even more challenging.
“[P]eople would be scared of approaching her, giving her food, and ill-intentioned people would pick on a dog looking like this,” Laura Daverio, La Casa del Mestizo volunteer and cofounder of DogMex, told The Dodo.
The staff and volunteers at the shelter immediately got to work getting Koa the medical care she needed. As Koa went to countless vet appointments where she was endlessly poked and prodded, everyone was amazed that she was still sweet and friendly.
“She wasn’t, in any moment, aggressive at all,” Daverio said. “Even in a situation where she must have been frightened, she was incredibly well-mannered.”
Koa was eventually diagnosed with dermatomyositis, a rare autoimmune condition that affects her skin and muscles. Her condition makes her extremely sensitive to the sun, so she has to stay out of the light and avoid going on walks between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
With the help of DogMex, an organization that connects shelters in Mexico to rescue partners in Canada, West Coast Paws Dog Rescue listed Koa for adoption back in February of 2023. Since then, she’s received zero applications.
“[You] just feel really sad and disheartened, especially because she is a special needs dog,” Zoë Yoxall, cofounder of West Coast Paws Dog Rescue, told The Dodo.
It’s clear that Koa’s condition is preventing people from taking a chance on her, which is unfortunate, because Koa is an outgoing pup who gets along with everyone she meets. She has a deep desire for affection, and while the shelter staff give her as much attention as they can, what she really needs is a home.
“[S]he’s unforgettable,” Daverio said. “I handle many dogs, and she’s on the top of my list.”
While some potential adopters might be intimidated by Koa needing a little extra care, her condition is in a very manageable place. She just needs someone who can keep her out of the sun and be attentive to any changes in her health.
Koa is 7 years old now, and more than anything, she wants someone to just sit and relax with her. She’d do great with a parent who works from home and has an outdoor space with shade so she can get some fresh air without hurting her skin.
“I think she’d do really well as a couch potato kind of dog,” Yoxall said.
Even though Koa has gone three years without a home, everyone who loves the sweet pup still has faith that the perfect family will come along for her. She would make a wonderful addition to any household — if someone would just take a chance on her.
“I think it can happen,” Daverio said. “I hope it can happen.”
