Zoe, Zoë; Zoey: For the Love of Dog

The name Zoe is of Greek origin and means “life.” In my world, ZOEY, means a 60-pound rescued border collie and yes, as a doting chow chow mom, it was the one breed of dog I said I would never own!

It took me a while to move on when my chow chow died prematurely. I found myself in a dark place as my home’s silence was deafening. I was so alone. There was no more getting up at 4:00am to walk the streets or no more putting up with the antics of the most obstinate dog on the planet. There was no more halting traffic at a busy intersection because my dog was lying in the middle of the road on his back refusing to budge while he was smirking at me. There would be no more trips to buy him take-out because he has refused to eat his dog food only to turn up his nose and walk away. And yes, no more chasing him through the backyard or from under the porch because it was fun for him to see me on the run as I tried to stop his pursuit of birds, rabbits, squirrels, or anything else that moved. However, all of this pales in comparison to the havoc caused when taking him to the veterinarian: three days of pre-medication, followed up at the vet’s office by my dog walker wrestling him to the ground while the veterinarian sedated him from behind and then carried this beast of mine into the exam room. Yet, I loved this impossible, spirited dog and losing him to a brain defect left me a stranger to the life we once happily lived.

But then came Zoey, the border collie rescue from the streets of Houston, Texas. As one can see, chow chow dogs are not for faint of heart inexperienced dog lovers, but neither are border collies. Border collies may appreciate a nice walk on the beach but sharing your life with one would never be confused with a day at the beach. Way too smart and far too much energy for my quiet home… or so I always thought.

It rang true the first night Zoey arrived from Houston. Zoey thought the way around the house furniture was to fly over it. I looked at this freckled face 60lb dog and said, “Zoey, in this house we walk around the furniture!”. Then I decided to bribe my new rescue with treats that she promptly buried throughout the house, taking all the pillows off the couch and chairs, and bedspreads off the beds. “Zoey,” I exclaimed, it is just you and I, and I am not going to steal your bones!” I was firmly convinced that I rescued a wild dog.

When I awoke the next day, I was afraid to open my eyes thinking this street dog caused massive destruction of the entire house. Yet, there she was cuddled up beside me and when she saw I was awake she greeted me with a kiss. Zoey means life, love, and adoration. Once again, life is good. Zoey is the appropriate name – representing the life she breathed back into my soul.