I want to tell the story of our Zoey.
She showed-up in our neighborhood in the Spring 2011.
She was scared of everyone, tail tucked between her legs, just a bag of skin and bones.
We and our neighbor left food for her. She would eat it when no one was around.
After several weeks, she finally would come close to us.
She loved the kiddos.
She loved being loved-on.
We affectionately called her Black Dog.
Eventually, she would nap and sleep on our porches.
She was scared of thunderstorms. My daughter would sit on the porch with her during a storm and she would try to climb in my daughters lap.
One evening the doorbell rang.
I opened the door to see only Black Dog lying in front of the door.
Off to the side of the porch is Mr Animal Control, a long pole in hand in which he used to reach the doorbell. Black Dog just lay there.
Mr Animal Control asks me about the the dog, I explain she is a stray and we and our neighbor have been feeding her.
He tells me he has to take her as she has been accused of attacking another dog and going after someone out for a jog. Mr Accuser shows up in his truck and confirms to Mr Animal Control that this is the dog.
Mr Animal Control proceeds to noose her and take her to the truck.
Tail tucked between her legs and head down, she goes.
He bangs the tailgate of the truck for her to jump up, but instead she drops to the ground, scared-to-death.
Mr Animal Control looks at Mr Accuser and says, "Yeah, she's in attack mode."
I am baffled and heartbroken.
But how can I stick-up for a stray dog.
Mr Animal Control gets her in the truck and takes her away.
Next day I call animal control to inquire of her.
AC: "She has 3 days for the owner to claim her, after that it's just a matter of time."
ME: "Time for what?"
AC: "Time to Put-Her-Down if we need room for another dog."
WHAT???
ME: "But, if the owner does not claim her, could we come get her? She really is a sweet dog!"
AC: "No ma'am! She can not return to the neighborhood with those charges against her. She will be put-down."
I call my neighbor to let her know what is going on. She, too, is heartbroken.
I call again the next day to inquire of Black Dog. I talk to the same woman. No one has claimed her.
I call again the next day. This time, the Director of AC answers the phone. Still, no claims on Black Dog.
ME: "Can we come get her...she really is a sweet dog?"
Ms Director: "I agree that she is a sweet dog. Normally, we would not let a dog with that accusation be allowed back in the neighborhood. But she shows no signs of being aggressive. I can only let her go if she has a fenced yard."
My neighbor has the fenced yard, so she goes and rescues Black Dog from uncertain death.
We take her to the Vet for a check-up.
We are told she looks to be Lab / Bulldog mix, approximately 8 yrs old.
Looks as though she has had several litters of pups.
Update her vaccinations.
She tests positive for Heart Worms. We are given options for treatment that are expensive and neither of us can afford. (Summer of 2012 she did get treatment)
Black Dog is officially adopted by our neighbor and given the name "Zoey"
Throughout her 1 1/2 years living with our neighbor, Zoey was an escape artist. Many, many times, she would get off her collar and tie-out leash, out of the fenced in yard, or out the door when opened, and run around the neighborhood. Sometimes she would show up at our house, and other times my daughter would go after her. Zoey would see her coming and sit and wait for her to put the leash on her.
December 2012, Zoey escaped, again...for the last time.
They would call her, but Zoey would run-off.
With sickness in the house (stomach-bug and the flu), the neighbors just couldn't handle her and said they were letting her go. It seemed that she did not want to stay there anymore.
Zoey showed up on our front porch. She whined to be let in.
She chose to live with us.
During the first few weeks, she escaped off her collar only twice, and never tried again.
We learned to keep close watch on her if the doors were being opened.
She was happy, content, and oh so sweet.
She just loved being loved-on.
AND...
We and our neighbor left food for her. She would eat it when no one was around.
After several weeks, she finally would come close to us.
She loved the kiddos.
She loved being loved-on.
We affectionately called her Black Dog.
Eventually, she would nap and sleep on our porches.
She was scared of thunderstorms. My daughter would sit on the porch with her during a storm and she would try to climb in my daughters lap.
One evening the doorbell rang.
I opened the door to see only Black Dog lying in front of the door.
Off to the side of the porch is Mr Animal Control, a long pole in hand in which he used to reach the doorbell. Black Dog just lay there.
Mr Animal Control asks me about the the dog, I explain she is a stray and we and our neighbor have been feeding her.
He tells me he has to take her as she has been accused of attacking another dog and going after someone out for a jog. Mr Accuser shows up in his truck and confirms to Mr Animal Control that this is the dog.
Mr Animal Control proceeds to noose her and take her to the truck.
Tail tucked between her legs and head down, she goes.
He bangs the tailgate of the truck for her to jump up, but instead she drops to the ground, scared-to-death.
Mr Animal Control looks at Mr Accuser and says, "Yeah, she's in attack mode."
I am baffled and heartbroken.
But how can I stick-up for a stray dog.
Mr Animal Control gets her in the truck and takes her away.
Next day I call animal control to inquire of her.
AC: "She has 3 days for the owner to claim her, after that it's just a matter of time."
ME: "Time for what?"
AC: "Time to Put-Her-Down if we need room for another dog."
WHAT???
ME: "But, if the owner does not claim her, could we come get her? She really is a sweet dog!"
AC: "No ma'am! She can not return to the neighborhood with those charges against her. She will be put-down."
I call my neighbor to let her know what is going on. She, too, is heartbroken.
I call again the next day to inquire of Black Dog. I talk to the same woman. No one has claimed her.
I call again the next day. This time, the Director of AC answers the phone. Still, no claims on Black Dog.
ME: "Can we come get her...she really is a sweet dog?"
Ms Director: "I agree that she is a sweet dog. Normally, we would not let a dog with that accusation be allowed back in the neighborhood. But she shows no signs of being aggressive. I can only let her go if she has a fenced yard."
My neighbor has the fenced yard, so she goes and rescues Black Dog from uncertain death.
We take her to the Vet for a check-up.
We are told she looks to be Lab / Bulldog mix, approximately 8 yrs old.
Looks as though she has had several litters of pups.
Update her vaccinations.
She tests positive for Heart Worms. We are given options for treatment that are expensive and neither of us can afford. (Summer of 2012 she did get treatment)
Black Dog is officially adopted by our neighbor and given the name "Zoey"
Throughout her 1 1/2 years living with our neighbor, Zoey was an escape artist. Many, many times, she would get off her collar and tie-out leash, out of the fenced in yard, or out the door when opened, and run around the neighborhood. Sometimes she would show up at our house, and other times my daughter would go after her. Zoey would see her coming and sit and wait for her to put the leash on her.
December 2012, Zoey escaped, again...for the last time.
They would call her, but Zoey would run-off.
With sickness in the house (stomach-bug and the flu), the neighbors just couldn't handle her and said they were letting her go. It seemed that she did not want to stay there anymore.
Zoey showed up on our front porch. She whined to be let in.
She chose to live with us.
During the first few weeks, she escaped off her collar only twice, and never tried again.
We learned to keep close watch on her if the doors were being opened.
She was happy, content, and oh so sweet.
She just loved being loved-on.
AND...
She loved to be outside and let the warmth of the sunshine soak into her ol' bones.
She would have rather sat in our laps, and believe me...she tried! All 80 some pounds of her!
But she was content to sit next to us on the floor or lay across our lap while we gave her much love.
But she was content to sit next to us on the floor or lay across our lap while we gave her much love.
We have no idea what her life was like before she showed up in the Spring of 2011, but while living with us, she ate Organic Food and Dog Food and Treats.
AND...
We gave her a life-time of love.
Unfortunately, this could not reverse all the prior years of the unknown.
August / September 2013 her health declined in just a few short weeks.
Zoey passed away on Friday, September 20 @ 12:20pm.
We miss her so much!
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