Some stories seem to glow with a warmth that begs to be shared. They have a gentle magic to them, a feeling that sticks with you long after you’ve heard them.
This story belongs to Sandstorm, a two-year-old dog patiently waiting for her forever family through One Tail at a Time, a rescue group based in Illinois.
The team knew right away that finding Sandstorm the perfect match wouldn’t be rushed. Wanting to give her every possible advantage, they chose to take an unconventional approach.
A Photo Session That Took An Unexpected Turn
In hopes of helping Sandstorm stand out, the rescue arranged a professional photo shoot with Indiana photographer Scott Corbett.
The session was going perfectly until the day took an unplanned turn. A couple arrived at the shelter, not by coincidence, but specifically to meet Sandstorm.
Corbett stopped photographing so Sandstorm could spend time with her visitors.
Kristin McCoy, who had come to meet her, shared that she had been thinking about Sandstorm for a while.
She explained that Sandstorm reminded her of a mix of two dogs she had loved before, both of whom 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 past, and the rescue shared everything they knew. She was believed to have been living on the streets of Chicago before being rescued.
There were suspicions that she may have been used for breeding, though nothing had ever been confirmed. Her behavior suggested she had experienced hardship.
“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.
After her rescue, Sandstorm had briefly been adopted, only to be returned after just twenty four hours.
A Fresh Start Under A Different Name
Fortunately, her story was about to change again, this time in a hopeful way.
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 worried about how their dog, Sinna, might respond to bringing another dog into the home. Their biggest hope was that the two would connect.
Once Sandstorm was adopted and brought home, they were surprised by Sinna’s reaction. She seemed calm and settled, almost as if a sense of peace had filled the space.
The family felt reassured, believing they had made the right decision. Then, just as life began to steady, everything shifted.
Only two days later, Sinna passed away unexpectedly. The family was heartbroken and believed the cause 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 gave Sandstorm a new name, Echo, honoring the dogs who had come before her and the memories that would always remain.
