Zoe is our two-year-old mini Australian Shepherd. She’s smart, endlessly energetic, and has been part of our family since the same time Daxton was born. The two of them basically grew up as puppies together, which might explain why she still seems convinced they’re the same species.
When we started planning this trip, figuring out what to do with Zoe was one of the first things on our list. We were very lucky that my brother Matt, who already has an Australian Shepherd named Bo, was open to the idea of welcoming Zoe into his family for the year. When he mentioned he was thinking about a second dog, it felt like fate. We suggested Zoe, and he immediately said yes.
So next week, Zoe will fly Alaska Airlines to Seattle. My mom and Matt, two of her favorite people, will meet her at the airport. She’ll spend a few days being spoiled by them before settling in with Matt and Bo full-time. Which means, in a way, Zoe is the first member of our family to officially begin her adventure.
The timing works out well. Zoe just wrapped up her puppy school and daycare chapter here in New York, complete with goodbyes to her best furry friends. We’ve been giving her extra love and attention in these last weeks, but the truth is she’s too smart for her own good. With the packing chaos all around the apartment, she’s been picking up on our stress and getting anxious herself. As much as we’ll miss her, it feels right to have her head west early, before the final sprint of moving out.
Of course, the kids are heartbroken to say goodbye. Evelyn has already drawn several “care instructions” for Matt, complete with illustrations of Zoe eating, Zoe sleeping, Zoe playing fetch, and Zoe looking sad if you forget to pet her every 15 minutes.
We’ll miss her, but we know she’ll be in good hands. And if she comes back next year demanding salmon jerky and hikes every morning, we’ll know she’s gone full Pacific Northwest with Bo.
