Some moments are so heartwarming they deserve to be shared. There’s just something special about it.
This one begins with Sandstorm, a two-year-old dog hoping to find a permanent home through One Tail at a Time, a rescue organization based in Illinois.
The team knew finding the right match for her wouldn’t be easy. So, they came up with a creative plan to help her stand out.
A Photo Shoot With An Unexpected Twist
To boost Sandstorm’s chances of adoption, the rescue enlisted Indiana-based photographer Scott Corbett for a professional photo shoot.
Everything was going smoothly until an unexpected interruption changed the course of the day. A couple arrived at the shelter, not by accident, but with the intention of meeting Sandstorm.
Corbett paused the shoot so Sandstorm could greet her visitors.
Kristin McCoy, the woman who came to see her, had been thinking about adopting Sandstorm for some time.
She explained that Sandstorm resembled a blend of her two previous dogs who had passed away. McCoy told The Dodo: “It’s uncanny. We were sad. I admit, I cried a little bit.”
McCoy asked about Sandstorm’s background, and the rescue shared what they knew. She had likely been living on the streets of Chicago before being taken in.
There was speculation that she may have been used for breeding, though nothing was confirmed. Her behavior hinted at a difficult past.
“She’s just the sweetest, most affectionate dog. She’s very calm and chill,” said Alli Rooney, marketing manager at One Tail at a Time.
Sandstorm had briefly found a home after her rescue, but was returned just twenty-four hours later.
A New Beginning With A New Name
Thankfully, her future was about to change again, this time for the better. McCoy recalled, “I was like, ‘Oh, no, don’t advertise her too hard,’. Give us a minute. We already missed out on her once.”
The couple had concerns about how their dog Sinna would react to a new companion. They hoped the two would bond.
After adopting Sandstorm and bringing her home, they were amazed by Sinna’s response. It was as if she felt a sense of peace.
The family was relieved, confident they had made the right choice. But just as things were settling, heartbreak struck.
Only two days later, Sinna passed away unexpectedly. The family was devastated and suspected it may have been an aneurysm.
McCoy said: “Her very existence… the way she came to us is a bridge to Sinna. So in some way, the three of them live on in this new dog, who is also, of course, uniquely and wonderfully her own person.”
They renamed her Echo, a tribute to the dogs who came before her and the memories they left behind.