R.I.P. Zeke Lou Moore

Hello, faithful readers, Doug here. I don’t want to take away from my beautiful bride, but I have a story to tell and I think this one should come from me. Ten years ago, almost to the day, my wife and I were still a new couple facing our first dating anniversary. We were also experiencing our first (and only, for that matter) extended time apart. Anne had gone to Italy on summer vacation and we were missing each other terribly. She did the coolest thing and wrote me a note for each day she would be away and sealed them in individual envelopes and placed them in a shoebox so that I would get a letter a day while she was away. Basically the coolest thing anyone had ever done for me. Anyway, I knew I needed to do something pretty cool as well, so when one of my co-workers told me that he saw this cute Beagle puppy at Citizens for Animal Protection (CAPS), I had to go check it out. I had always been partial to Beagles, and since I was in my first apartment away from home, it seemed like the perfect opportunity. I had already picked out a name for my dog that didn’t exist, Zeke.

When I arrived at CAPS, I asked where the Beagle was, and was pointed in the right direction. Now, I am sure that most of you have heard this story, but this is my time, so bear with me here. I walked up to this six month old puppy and looked at her sweet eyes and told her I was not going to take her home. She continued to give me that look and I told her again that I was not taking her home, as I stroked her head and back. She then moved in for the kill. She licked me on the nose. I meant to tell her again that I was not taking her home, but what came out of my mouth was something along the lines of “Excuse me ma’am, what do I need to do to take this dog home?” I filled out the necessary paperwork, and that was that. A few days later, Anne was to arrive back home from Italy, and it just so happened that that was the day that Zeke was to come home from CAPS. I had our friend Mandy pick Zeke up and leave her at my apartment, and since she had just been spayed, Mandy left her in the bathroom. When we got back to the apartment, I had Anne sit in the living room and close her eyes. I then had Zeke come out of the bathroom. Zeke walked right up to Anne, and so began our 10 year love affair with a certain female Beagle with a boy name, our dear Zekie Lou.

Our time with Zeke was filled with highs and lows, as with any pet who is more surrogate child than anything. We adored her, of course, but sometimes she could make us so angry we could scream, and sometimes did. We took her almost everywhere. Not too long after we got Zeke, she actually jumped out of Anne’s car as she was driving down the street. I remember chasing her down the street one day after she made a break through the front door of the apartment. I remember ER visits and thyroid medication (fatty boombalatty!). I remember destroyed carpet and chewed French doors. I also remember getting a call from the management office of my new apartment in Austin on our first weekend there saying that I needed to get back and put our Dear Zeke inside because she wouldn’t stop howling on the patio where we left her. But more than anything, I remember my loving dog, who could always make me feel better, no matter what, with that simple gesture that won my heart to begin with, a lick on the nose. I loved my Zeke, she was like a daughter to me and I will forget all the evil things she did. I will never forget the nose kisses.

Zeke passed away this morning 6/29/07, at 9:30 on the way to the Veterinarian’s office. When I let the dogs in for breakfast this morning, Zeke was very lethargic, panting and uninterested in her food. Any of you who know our Zeke will know that the food thing was definitely cause for alarm, even without the other symptoms, this dog never missed a meal in her 10.5 years on this planet! Anyway, we were rushing to the Vet and she just stopped breathing. I'll be honest; to have her die right next to me has to be the worst thing I have ever experienced. I took her to my parents house after having the Vet give her the once over, just to make sure, and laid her to rest. Right next to her sister Shelby. Right where she would have wanted to be. Night night Zekie, mommy and daddy love you, and we will miss you so much.