Crystal – Zoe, RIP

Hi Gisele,

It’s with a heavy heart that I write to tell you that our beautiful Zoe died of pancreatic and liver cancer today. You have rescued so many dogs that I don’t expect you to remember me or my daughter when we drove down from Amelia Island, Fl. and fell in love with a beautiful border collie with crystal blue eyes, 3 years ago. In fact, that was name you had given her, Crystal.

We have a small bed and breakfast with guest arriving from all over the country and world. She brought joy to everyone that met her. She was always friendly and welcoming to all who came to our home. Her blue eyes would sparkle and ears perk up whenever you mentioned, car, walk, squirrels, shoes, leash, keys, or someone approaching the door.

Here are just a few of the many comments made by our visiting guests:

Everything was PERFECT & Deborah & Bobby are great. Oh, Zoe (their dog) is really a sweetheart too!  THANKS Deborah & Bobby — I really enjoyed staying with you! 🙂 Cheers…   Brian Atlanta, GA

Zoe, is a sweet dog! Perfect stop for Florida beach-hopping!
Mary Sue, Charleston, South Carolina, United States

Their doggie is really sweet too!
Lindsey, Roanoke, Virginia

They treated us more like old friends than strangers and their dog Zoe is wonderful.
Rogert, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States

The dog is sweet, never even barked at me. I had a great time, would definitely stay again.
Jo L, London, UK

A sweet and mellow dog, Zoe, greeted us.
St Augustine, Florida, United States

Their dog Zoe was the best behaved indoor dog we’d ever seen – no bother at all (and we don’t even like indoor pets.)
Kurt and Edina, Columbia, South Carolina, United States

We had a wonderful time with Deborah + Bobby, their family and of course Zoe, their funny, squirrel addicted dog. Raphael, Zurich, Canton of Zurich, Switzerland

Zoe is just the sweetest thing.
Karen, Heiloo, Noord-Holland, The Netherland

We will miss her so much. I’ve been crying all day so it’s been very hard to write this letter, but I thank you, Gisele, for giving us the opportunity to love and be loved by a wonderful sweetheart, our little girl, Zoe. We will not forget her….

My immediate answer to Deb was, “My dear, I never forget my dogs.  I forget people.  I remember sweet crystal. ”  I asked her to call me.

I spoke with Deborah this morning, she held the tears back and she explained to me what happened, and how sudden it was.  What a great loss for all of us, but looking at Zoe’s photos, and realizing where she came from versus where she left, she sure lived a great life, didn’t she?  She will never be forgotten.

After reviewing photos of Zoe, I realized that she was to Deb and her family, my Reckless, so I did this video:

And I wrote: On the way home tonight, I witnessed a gorgeous sunset, yet it wasn’t long ago that its beauty didn’t phase me… it was when my dog died. While I was only Crystal’s (Zoe’s) foster, I know too well the pain her owners feel today.

I remember not wanting to come home to an empty house. I remember waking up in tears every morning. For being without my dog was too much for my heart to bare. It wasn’t until I dedicated my life to rescue dogs that I put those emotions behind me, until now.

Seeing Zoe’s photographs brought all of my emotions back, they brought me back to February 9, 2009 when I lost my best friend. I did this video in honor of Zoe because I believe that her owners feel today, the same way I felt then. How do we move on? We don’t.

But we can open up our hearts, and help another animal find joy and love, and allow that animal to give us the same. We deserve it, and we can help our “heart dog’s” memory live on with every new dog we accept in our hearts.

I have to date rescued over 700 dogs, and every one of them have touched my heart. It pains me to see their owners say goodbye. But like Sarah White said today, if you don’t cry, you don’t feel.

We miss you Zoe, and you will never be forgotten.

Ironically, our Bailey Boy died today as well. Rescue is not all about puppy breath, kisses and tails wagging. Zoe, you were the Caroll’s family heart dog. And not many get that title!
2010 History: Crystal (aka daisy) is a papered, pure-bred blue-eyed Border Collie.

You won’t be surprised to know that she is extremely intelligent and has tremendous focus. What might surprise you, however, is that she is not a high-drive dog. Rather than looking for a job to do, she is looking for a person to love. She is what we like to refer to as a “velcro dog” ~ her favorite place to be is next to her family.

Crystal was adopted, and I can’t wait for updates!

You know, you just don’t find a lot of Border Collies like this. I mean, we love BCs, but the reason they end up in rescue is that they are so intense, so busy, the average family just can’t handle them. Crystal has all the looks and intelligence, all the upside of the breed, without all the “What can I do? What can I do? What can I do?” compulsion that can drive the unprepared person nuts. She even ignores cats! Wow! Fully trained and fully loved, this dog is wonderful! More photos of her can be viewed on Facebook.

Foster Update:

Crystal wants to be with her “person” and strives to please. She isn’t that keen on other dogs being in her space (her crate) but she is not dog aggressive. She wanders the house with my other guys, no problem. Thunderstorms distress her and she needs to be watched and cared for during them. I wonder if she has the potential to be an escape artist: she scopes out the parameters of her world and examines possible exits ~ typical Border Collie! Crystal is highly intelligent, understands commands, watching her person’s face and trying to read what is going on with them. She loves to play in the water, biting and barking at a squirting water hose. lol. She loves watching the other Border Collies playing tug of war with toys and will bark at them, but is not necessarily interested in playing with toys one-on-one.

Adoption October 21, 2010 Update:

We changed Crystal’s name to Zoe. She is already recognizing it. She was perfect on the 3 hour trip home with a stop at PetSmart. When we finally got home she didn’t want to go for a walk and was kind of fighting the leash. So, I brought her in to meet Bobby and show her the house. My bedroom is off limits for her until I see how I manage with my allergies. She will come to the door of my bedroom but I’ll gently say “no” and point and she turns around. We have only heard her bark once and that was when someone rang a door bell on a TV show…lol. I got up this morning at 6:30 and made coffee. She just raised her head up and waited for me to open her crate. I got the leash and took her for a walk in which she was perfect; stayed right beside me, even when I started jogging. Now she lays in my studio while I work or on the tile in the dining room. She loves her crate too. She really is a couch potato! I have to make her play but within minutes she rolls over on her back. I tell her she needs to get up and exercise and she’ll put her paws over her ears like she doesn’t want to hear. She just like my husband! Here are a few photos in her new home…

Adoption October 31st, 2010 Update:

I took her to the beach yesterday and she seemed excited and was OK except she avoided the water as it came in. It was low tide and the waves were calm. She didn’t mind walking in the wet or dry sand. She’s walking a mile every morning and evening and sometimes during the day. If we just say the word “walk” she gets excited and starts for the door. Squirrels are the only thing we have to watch for. She wants to chase them…lol.