Adopted After 100 Days..Then A Tornado Hit!Navid Tavakolnia Fri, October 16, 2026 at 9:55 PM UTC
For 100 days, Twix waited in a shelter, watching the dogs around him get their second chances.
One by one, his kennel companions were adopted or rescued. Each time, Twix was left behind.
When I first met him on Sitting With Dogs, he was so timid that even accepting a treat seemed like a big decision. His ears were pinned back, his tail tucked, and every small step forward was followed by hesitation.
But there was something about this sweet pit bull mix that I couldn’t forget.
And when I shared his story, a couple nearly 3,000 miles away saw something special in him.
They wanted to bring Twix home.
What followed was an extraordinary cross-country adoption journey involving a new canine companion, a dedicated shelter team, a diverted flight, tornado warnings, and a frightening delay that left everyone wondering whether Twix would make it safely to his new family.
Twix Had Spent 100 Days Watching Other Dogs Leave
Twix was approximately 2 years old when I met him at the shelter.
According to the shelter records Alexis reviewed, he was listed as a pit bull mix, possibly mixed with Labrador Retriever.
His journey to the shelter had been unusual.
A previous caretaker had reportedly taken Twix and another dog from a man at a swap meet, hoping to find them new homes.
After approximately six months of unsuccessful attempts to rehome them, the caretaker brought both dogs to the shelter.
It appeared that someone had tried to help these dogs but ultimately couldn’t find them permanent homes.
Then Twix experienced another disappointment.
The dog who arrived with him was rescued.
Twix stayed behind.
Because shelter staff knew he did well with other dogs, they began pairing him with different kennel companions.
But each of those dogs eventually found a home or rescue placement.
Twix kept waiting.
By the time I sat with him, he’d been there for 100 days.
And I couldn’t understand why.
He Was Housebroken, Good With Kids, and Loved Other Dogs
As Alexis shared more about Twix, I learned that he had several qualities families often look for in an adoptable dog.
He was reportedly housebroken, good with children, and comfortable around other dogs.
Yet he was so shy that prospective adopters might have struggled to imagine the affectionate companion he could become.
When I first entered his kennel, Twix seemed uncertain about everything.
I offered him treats and gave him space to decide whether he wanted to approach.
He would stretch his head forward, consider taking a treat, and sometimes retreat.
I used a technique I call “Pac-Man,” gradually encouraging him to move forward for small treats without overwhelming him.
Little by little, he began making progress.
He stood up. He moved closer. He accepted treats. He even started allowing gentle affection.
At one point, he became comfortable enough to begin dozing off.
For a dog who had been so tense, that was a meaningful moment.
But I still suspected something was missing.
Twix needed another dog to help him feel confident.
Everything Changed When Twix Met Luna
Shelter staff arranged for Twix to meet Luna, a beautiful Husky.
The difference was almost immediate.
The shy dog who had been hesitating around me suddenly seemed more interested in interacting and exploring.
Twix and Luna began getting acquainted, and his behavior noticeably changed.
He approached more confidently and appeared happier with another dog nearby.
Watching that transformation reinforced something I’d suspected from the beginning.
Twix wasn’t necessarily showing visitors his full personality when he was alone.
He seemed to gain confidence from canine companionship.
And that observation would eventually help him find the perfect family.
A Couple Nearly 3,000 Miles Away Fell in Love With Twix
After watching Twix’s video, Michelle and Ken, a couple living in New Jersey, decided they wanted to adopt him.
They already had a dog named Pepper, a pit bull mix who had loved other dogs since puppyhood.
They had been considering adding another dog to their family, but choosing one hadn’t been easy.
Then they saw Twix.
He even resembled Pepper, with similar floppy ears and a slightly longer snout.
Something about his story immediately connected with them.
Michelle explained that she felt drawn to Twix and wanted to apply despite the distance.
She knew adopting a dog from across the country might be a long shot.
But she couldn’t stop thinking about how long he’d been waiting.
And the possibility that Twix and Pepper could become companions made the decision feel even more right.
The couple submitted an application.
To their surprise, the adoption process moved quickly.
With help from Phil and the shelter team, arrangements were made to fly Twix across the country.
It looked like his 100-day wait was finally over.
But getting him home would prove much more complicated than anyone expected.
The Shelter Team Got Up at 2 A.M. to Send Twix Home
Transporting Twix to his new family required careful coordination.
Phil and the shelter staff prepared him for the journey, waking up around 2 a.m. to get everything ready.
Twix was fed, taken outside, and prepared for his trip.
Phil personally helped transport him to the airport.
The flight team placed Twix in an oversized travel crate, and the shelter staff watched as he began the journey toward his forever home.
For Michelle and Ken, the plan was to drive from northern New Jersey to John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York to pick him up.
His scheduled arrival was around 3:40 p.m.
Everything seemed to be going according to plan.
Until severe weather moved in.
Tornado Warnings Forced Twix’s Plane to Divert
A major storm system brought thunderstorms and tornado warnings across the region.
Twix’s flight was delayed.
Then it was diverted to Nashville, Tennessee.
Michelle and Ken had already been preparing to collect him at JFK when the updates began changing.
What initially appeared to be a delay of about an hour became something much more serious.
The plane’s arrival kept getting pushed back.
At one point, the people following Twix’s journey temporarily lost track of his whereabouts.
Everyone was worried.
Would the plane be able to take off again?
Would the storms force another cancellation?
Would someone need to travel to Nashville to help him?
The uncertainty was especially difficult because Twix was traveling in his crate, unable to understand why the journey was taking so long.
Michelle and Ken feared the flight might not resume because of the severe weather.
Thankfully, it eventually did.
But Twix’s travel day was far from over.
Twix Finally Arrived at 10:30 P.M.
Instead of arriving around 3:40 in the afternoon, Twix finally reached his new family at approximately 10:30 that night.
His new owners estimated he’d spent about 15 and a half hours in his crate.
It had been an exhausting day, with unexpected delays and a flight they believed had been particularly bumpy.
When Michelle and Ken finally opened his crate and welcomed him, Twix was understandably frightened.
But he was also remarkably gentle.
They were able to hold him and clean him up without him resisting.
Despite everything he’d experienced, he appeared willing to trust his new family.
Twix had made it.
After 100 days in the shelter and a chaotic journey across the country, he was finally home.
But there was still one important question.
Would he get along with Pepper?
His First Meeting With Pepper Was a Little Awkward
Pepper was eager to meet her new brother.
Twix, however, had just experienced one of the longest and most stressful days of his life.
When they first approached each other, Twix lifted his leg and urinated.
Michelle and Ken laughed about the awkward introduction, but they understood that he needed time to settle in.
Rather than rush things, they gave him his own space.
They set up a comfortable bed in Ken’s home office, and Twix quickly decided it was his favorite place.
For the first few days, he was reluctant to leave the room.
He wouldn’t willingly go outside into the yard, so Michelle and Ken sometimes had to carry him out.
But one thing was already clear.
Twix was beginning to recognize that he had a home.
Whenever he returned from the yard, he headed straight back inside.
And whenever his new family entered the room, his tail started thumping.
They even gave him a nickname.
Thumper.
A Month Later, Twix Was Becoming a Different Dog
When Michelle and Ken shared their update, Twix had been living with them for a little over a month.
His progress was encouraging.
He was eating well, sleeping comfortably, and gradually becoming more confident.
He still experienced anxious moments, and some days were easier than others.
But he was learning to relax in his new surroundings.
His relationship with Pepper was also growing.
At first, Pepper had been a little assertive with him, and the two needed time to adjust.
Over the following weeks, she began learning to share her home and attention.
Then Michelle and Ken noticed something particularly sweet.
One day, when Twix was coughing a little, Pepper approached him, appeared to check on him, gave him a kiss on the face, and sat beside him.
She had also begun going back inside to find him when he didn’t follow her into the yard.
The dog who once needed another canine companion to feel confident now had a sister who seemed to look out for him.
And the two were enjoying time together in their backyard.
Twix Still Has Some Fears, But His Family Is Giving Him Time
Twix’s adjustment hasn’t been completely effortless.
Michelle and Ken noticed that he could sometimes become nervous around sudden movements.
Ken initially wondered whether Twix was uncomfortable around men because he occasionally seemed startled when Ken approached.
On one occasion, when Ken entered a room quickly, Twix became frightened and urinated a little.
His family doesn’t know exactly why he reacts this way.
Rather than make assumptions about his past, they’re giving him patience and reassurance.
And Twix has already developed a particularly close bond with Ken.
Because Ken works from home, Twix gets to spend much of his day near him.
He has a bed beneath Ken’s desk, with Pepper’s bed nearby.
At night, Twix sleeps beside Ken, sometimes cuddling closely against him.
The once-timid shelter dog has become an affectionate companion who loves human contact.
His family says he remains a quiet dog, rarely barking and occasionally making a soft, low sound.
But when he’s outside playing with Pepper, they see moments when he appears completely relaxed.
Those are some of their favorite moments.
From a Shelter Kennel to a King-Sized Bed
Twix’s life today looks very different from the one I saw when I first sat beside him.
He has a spacious yard where he can play.
He has a canine sister who enjoys spending time with him.
He has two people who adore him.
And every night, he gets to sleep on a comfortable king-sized bed.
Michelle and Ken say bringing Twix into their home has been a wonderful experience, even with the adjustments that come with introducing a second dog.
They believe Pepper and Twix have made their family better.
And while Twix traded California for New Jersey, his new family is already looking forward to watching him experience his first winter with them.
After all the uncertainty surrounding his adoption, they couldn’t be happier that he’s there.
Twix Finally Found the Family Who Chose Him
When I first met Twix, he was a frightened dog who had spent 100 days waiting for someone to notice him.
He had watched other dogs leave the shelter while he remained behind.
He was so hesitant that even reaching for a treat required courage.
But when we paired him with Luna, we got a glimpse of the confident, affectionate dog he could become.
And nearly 3,000 miles away, Michelle and Ken saw that same potential.
They didn’t let the distance stop them.
The shelter team didn’t let the complicated transportation arrangements stop them.
And even a major storm system and a diverted flight couldn’t keep Twix from reaching his new home.
Today, Twix has something he didn’t have during those long months at the shelter.
A family of his own.
And perhaps the most beautiful part is that the very thing that helped him open up at the shelter—having another dog beside him—is now part of his everyday life.
Twix has Pepper.
Pepper has Twix.
And Michelle and Ken say their little family finally feels complete.
For the dog who watched everyone else get adopted, it was finally his turn. ❤️🐾
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Also Read:I Sat With This Dog When The ‘OWNER’ Walked In
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Source: Nature
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