It has been two weeks since we lost our good girl, Zoe. As I told someone recently, in a house full of 5 kids, I can't say that it feels empty, but we do miss Zoe's presence. We miss her happy greetings when we get home & her excited back-side wagging. Drew misses his wrestling buddy.
I am not going to lie, some things have gotten easier. I miss Zoe's protective instincts, but not her smelly dog breath & odors. I miss Zoe happily taking care of all the crumbs the kids would drop, but not her trying to take bites of food straight out of the kids' hands! I'm noticing all the little ways having a dog for so many years shaped our life & our habits...we always put the toilet lids down...so she wouldn't take a drink. We always would throw away food wrappers & even tissues in the kitchen trash can only...because it was the only one she couldn't get into for a "snack." Having to always keep two eyes on her outside in case she caught a scent & would run off exploring.
Growing up we only had outside dogs. Zoe was my first "real" dog that was a part of the family. Dogs are a lot of work, but they really are worth it! We miss her & miss the special joy she added to our lives. Here is that little look back at a lifetime of Zoe pictures...for some reason I couldn't find the earliest puppy pictures. I can vividly remember the day we brought her home, having to stop by the store for a leash, food bowls, dog food and more...what had we gotten ourselves into!
Jeff enrolled Zoe in puppy classes & faithfully took her once a week for several months for training. She always did sit with one of her feet sticking out to the side...not a proper "sit" but cute!
Zoe & Sammy, best buds! Before kids, they would both sleep on the end of our bed.
Puppy Zoe playing in her first snow! She loved it from the start!
My brother, Pete, loved Zoe as much as we did
Zoe & Sammy used to play together like, well, like cats & dogs!
They would do this all the time & Sammy could have gotten away if he wanted to, but he had just as much fun as Zoe!
Zoe on our front porch in Chicago
Zoe at the dog beach! She LOVED the water & was a great swimmer!
Nap time!
Relaxing
Our first trip to NC with Zoe when she was not quite a year old
Next thing you know, we added a playmate for Zoe!
From the start Jack & Zoe were best buds
Our ever happy girl
Always interested in what Jack was doing...
...probably because she quickly learned that he often had food!
Zoe beginning to outgrow her first dog bed...but Jack doesn't mind squeezing in!
She makes a great stool
Sorry Zoe, it's only a bubble blower, not food
Water table fun!
Wondering if Jack will drop any crumbs
Having a cool drink
Watching a little TV
Yay, a bigger dog bed! Do you see Jack's sippy cup tucked under her paw...for safe keeping!
Christmas 2002 Family Picture
Two amigos
More water fun
And then there were two...kids!
When we moved to NC, Zoe stayed in Chicago with my brother for about a year while our house here was being built. I think this picture was taken on the day he brought her "home" to us in our new house. A very happy reunion!
Halloween 2006
Christmas 2006
Snow! Not quite like Chicago snow, but it was still snow!
And then another new baby to walk!
Summer 2007
Zoe always loved being where the action was!
And another baby realized the best place to hang-out, on the dog bed!
Zoe always made a great pillow
And she always was up for some hugs!
At some point in 2008, Zoe injured her tail wagging it so hard that it hit the corner molding of a door & got a little cut...the cut was on the tip of her tail, where she could reach it. So she would lick & lick & lick it until it got infected & no matter what we tried (why don't I have pictures of her in the "lampshade" collar or with a "belt" holding a pvc pipe over her tail) we could not keep her from chewing on her tail, until it started to get gang green ...and so the only alternative we were left with was to have it amputated.
But before long she was back to her normal happy self!
Pretty as a present!
Finally, more snow!!
Zoe always looked so pretty in all the white snow!
She loved to play catch with snowballs!
She was like a puppy again when it would snow!
Taking a walk!
A nice bath!
Scrub-a-dub-dub
Then shake!!!
Always along for the ride
In her element once again, swimming!!
Swimming & playing fetch...if dogs went to heaven, that's what it would be like!
Jeff & faithful girl Zoe, summer 2009
Zoe had surgery in early winter 2009 to remove some cancerous tumors from her abdomen & lip. We were not sure what the outcome would be, but she bounced back!
Playing with Duke in the water. Duke was completely afraid of the water until he saw Zoe having so much fun & she coaxed him in.
This pic (above) is one of my favorites
Starting to go gray around her nose
Drew loved Zoe from the start & was always scooting, crawling, or toddling over to where she was
Zoe & Sammy, faithful friends
Christmas 2009
Zoe's practically the only one smiling & looking at the camera!
Hooray for snow!
And she was right by your side for the long walk back up the hill!
Yet another move to a new house again!
Resting
You can see why Drew & Zoe were fast friends...a shared love of FOOD!
Sweet kisses
Having a conversation
Relaxin'
Playin'
Still loved the snow, but didn't have as much energy to play in it
Kisses!!
And hugs!
Easter 2011
How this boy loved this dog!
This summer we noticed Zoe start to slow down markedly.
She was still as patient & loving as ever.
And she still enjoyed a good swim
or shake!
Her last trip to the lake was a happy one.
It sure makes me smile looking back at so many years of sweet moments. And I still keep glancing down at the floor to left of my desk, expecting you to be there. Rest in Peace sweet Zoe girl.
Thanks for all the years of joy & happy memories!
