Only love has a transformative power that can heal even the most wounded and terrified hearts.

Sandy, a shelter dog, badly needed human affection, but due to her overwhelming fear, she was unable to open her heart to love.

The canine, who was picked up as a stray on the streets of south Chicago, had numerous scars and health issues. 

The good humans at One Tail At A Time took Sandy under their care. They were determined to help her chase away her fears and show her how beautiful life could be.

A Lovely Human Gives Her A Chance

Shortly after a wonderful human named Elie signed up to foster with the Chicago-based rescue, she met Sandy. The pup left quite an impression on her.

The doggo was sweet and tender, but she was too frightened to trust humans and accept their love.

“I’d never seen a dog that was so shut down and so scared but at the same time you could tell she wants to be loved,” Elie told GeoBeats Animals.

Elie decided to foster Sandy. 

After she took the pooch to her car, Sandy immediately curled up, making herself look as small as possible.

Upon their arrival at Elie’s home, Sandy froze with fear, and her foster mom had to carry her out of the car.

Fostering Sandy turned out to be a shocking experience for Elie. The pup was terrified of everything.

“I would take her out on the first couple days and she would see a street sign and she would cower in fear. There would like a bench and would look at it like it was the most terrifying thing,” Elie added.

Elie tried to help Sandy overcome her fears, which were keeping her from enjoying life. She offered Sandy support and gave her a lot of love.

Finding Her Safe Place

Slowly, Sandy started feeling secure in her foster home.

She made friends with Ziggy, Elie’s other dog, and the two pups began playing and enjoying their time together.

With every passing day, Sandy became more confident and cheerful. She started opening up and seeking cuddles from her foster mom.

Having realized that her home had become Sandy’s safe haven, Elie began bonding with her. 

She describes Sandy as a sensitive dog who craves human love. 

“She wants to be loved and to show other people that she loves them, but she’s also very sensitive and when things happen, it really affects her. So she’s the kind of dog who really loves life when she feels safe but is deeply affected, I think, by the world and by her environment,” Elie added.

After fostering the pooch for three months, Elie realized that Sandy belonged with her, and she officially adopted her.

Sandy often shares wonderful photos of her life in her forever home on her Instagram account. The canine loves going on walks with her mom and her brother, Ziggy.

The love that her mom showered her with brought her immense happiness. The canine lives her best life, and she can’t stop smiling.