Disabled dogs are hard to find homes for. In fact, Echo’s original owners had planned to have the deaf and partially blind Great Dane euthanized.
She was rescued from the Louisiana home when she was just 12 weeks old – and she was in rough condition.
“She was 12 weeks old and was 15 pounds underweight and had a belly full of rocks,” her rescuer Marion Dwyer said. “We took her to the vet and he said this is very common in dogs that don’t get fed, that are neglected and they develop pica and she was literally trying to eat everything.”
The Dwyer family was all too happy to have the gentle giant at their Niagara Falls, New York home. But they had some concerns when they gave birth to their first child.
It turns out, however, that baby Jennie and Echo became the best of friends.
“Echo just seems to have always taken to Jennie, even before she was born. She always snuggled up to my baby bump and wanted to rest her head on it.”
The two became famous in 2017 when Jennie was just 17-months old.
That’s because the photos and video Dwyer posted were simply heartwarming.
Despite her disabilities, Echo could sense any harm that was about to come to her little human sister and was keen to keep her safe.
“Echo certainly does look out for her sister Jennie and always makes sure no one gets too close to her. She loves people and will put herself in front of Jennie to be pet first. If a stranger with a dog approaches she will stand or sit in front of Jennie to shield her, but not showing any aggression – just making sure she’s safe,” the mom said, according to The Daily Mail.
The family already had two Great Danes, and while Echo was certainly extra work, it was all worth it to see their little girl bond with the gentle giant.
“‘Jennie goes to dog training with us when we have time to go and she will be in a baby carrier on my back,” Dywer said.
Jennie even learned to communicate with Echo using sign language (the dog was severely nearsighted but not entirely blind).
“She will wave Echo over to her when she wants her to come and she knows how to offer her a treat, she likes to sneak her breakfast waffles and apple slices.”
Their story first went viral when Dwyer posted a video of the two walking down the street together.
Their photos were splashed all over European lifestyle magazines.
Echo particularly enjoyed walking with the toddler because it gave her a chance to stop and sniff things at a nice, slow toddler pace.
Sadly, on March 22, 2018, after a rapid decline, Echo passed away. Their best guess is that she had a tumor in her belly.
The whole family said goodbye amidst broken hearts.
“I held Echo and listened to her final heartbeat and felt her final breath. It took me an hour to muster up the strength to leave her there, wanting to touch and smell her one last time over and over again,” Dwyer posted days later after an outpouring of support.
Like any dog owners, they were devastated but grateful for the time they got to spend with Echo and the bond she had shared with their daughter.
Echo may be gone, but she’ll never be forgotten.
Be sure to scroll down below to see more from Echo and Jennie’s happier days together back in 2017.
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