Zoey’s daily outlook is a bright as the smile on her face. She looks forward to every day as a new adventure and is seeking a special family to enjoy it with! Zoey is an eight-year-old Shepherd mix who arrived at the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria (AWLA) with a number of medical concerns and a big grin that left everyone who met her smiling in return. Despite the mass on her liver, several mammary masses, bladder issues and a nasal mass in her right nostril that has caused her some difficulty breathing, Zoey is happy and comfortable.
We understand that Zoey’s needs are special, but we also know that Zoey is a pretty special pup. She has been living with an amazing foster caregiver for the past several months, and thanks to her, we can provide a better idea of Zoey’s hobbies and habits, and how she lives each day to its fullest, no matter what her medical concerns are.
A Day in the Life of Zoey
Every day starts with breakfast!
Zoey begins each day with breakfast of course! She always looks forward to meal times and enjoys her pills not with a spoonful of sugar but buried in whatever treats she’s getting that morning. Her foster reports that having Zoey take her twice daily medicine that helps manage her incontinence is as easy as dog-food-pie!
Zoey’s foster says that she is very ladylike about asking to go outside for bathroom breaks! She waits patiently by the door or gives you a reminder that she would like to go outside. Though she does have accidents inside due to her incontinence, these are easily managed with training pads because when Zoey is inside, she finds her spot and stays there, and that spot is usually right next to you!
Meeting neighbors and making friends
Zoey loves the company of other dogs, and gets along with most of the other dogs she meets! She prefers dogs closer to her size, but she is so kind and gentle that she has a calming affect on those around her. Needless to say, she has made friends with all of her neighbors and looks forward to meeting even more canine companions, whether in her future family or those living just down the street.
Zoey prefers a sedate pace to match her calm attitude, and to stroll and sniff the flowers. She enjoys spending time in the yard or on a balcony, so she can watch the birds and enjoy the breeze. She is so calm that her foster family was surprised by her reaction to squirrels and cats, which belies the puppy personality of her younger years!
“Just the biggest cuddlebug!”
Ask anyone who has met Zoey and they’ll tell you just how affectionate she can be. She will cuddle up on the couch right beside you after you give her her favorite treats. Zoey mostly just wants to be by your side all day. Whether you’re working on your computer, in your kitchen preparing a meal or relaxing on the couch, Zoey will be there, lending a paw of encouragement.
We do not have diagnoses for some of Zoey’s medical issues. We do know that she is happy and comfortable, with a good quality of life, and we want her to be able to find a home and a family who can love her for the time she has left, whether it is months, a year or longer.
If you’d like to learn more about Zoey’s needs and the adoption process, contact our adoptions team at adoptions@alexandriaanimals.org or 703-746-4774, or please help us share Zoey’s story so she can find an extra special family to call her own.
