Joy As Rescue Dog Goes From ‘Stray To Slay’ With New Owner’s Makeover

A rescue dog has undergone a remarkable transformation after being adopted.

Natalie Fernandez shared footage to her TikTok account Natsack123 showing how her dog Winnie went from “stray to slay” having “never had a haircut in her life.”

Grooming is a part of pet care that some owners often overlook. A survey of 1,520 U.S. pet parents conducted by PetSmart, found that while 67 percent of dog parents understand regular grooming is an important part of their dog’s health and wellbeing, just 37 percent regularly take their dog to a professional grooming salon.

From the moment Fernandez first brought Winnie home, it was clear she was in need of a “glow-up.” Fernandez already had one dog, Alfie, and had fostered in the past through her rescue, Wags. However, from the moment Winnie arrived, she had a feeling her temporary stay might end up becoming something more permanent.

“We have fostered a number of dogs before and loved them all but something was just different with her,” Fernandez told Newsweek. Winnie’s appearance initially left Fernandez shocked.

“She was smaller than I thought she would be—so skinny, had never had a haircut in her life, had double canines, worms, and desperately needed a bath. Her hair was matted and she had twigs and leaves caught in it,” she said.

But then something happened on the drive home that established an almost instant bond. “She looked up at me in the car and I burst into tears,” Fernandez said. “I don’t know how to explain it, she just looked so grateful.”

It was the bond Winnie quickly established with Alfie that made her realize this one was for keeps. “When we got home, she immediately started playing with Alfie,” she said. “They got along so well. It was perfect, they even look alike and we get asked if they’re litter mates all the time.”

Not much is known about Winnie’s life before. She was found wandering around as a stray and took time to adjust to being in a real home. “She was easily spooked at first and slept in these very odd positions but she acclimated fast,” Fernandez said.

Winnie was thought to be around the age of one or two when Fernandez took her home. “So she went that whole first year or two without ever having had a haircut,” she said. Within two days in her care that changed though, with the resulting makeover transforming Winnie from a seemingly big and shaggy dog to the most petite of pups.

More importantly, the change gave Winnie a new sense of self-confidence and security. She realized the people she was with were looking after her and cared. It didn’t take long for her to become a “foster fail” after that with Fernandez happily adopting Winnie. It’s not a decision she has ever regretted.

“Winnie is always happy,” Fernandez said. “She absolutely loves playing fetch in the house, stealing socks out of the laundry and playing with them, wrestling with Alfie, zooming around the living room, getting her morning ice cube, and any other treats she can get.”

Fernandez said she shared Winnie’s makeover video as a reminder that “every dog, no matter their past, deserves a chance at a loving home.”

“Winnie’s story is a reminder that a little kindness and care can make all the difference,” she said. “From being a scared, neglected stray to thriving in a home full of love, her transformation shows that with patience, compassion, and the right environment, even the most vulnerable animals can find joy and security.”