Community Pet Center

Zoe, a solider and his dog. (RCAPA)

August 6. 2007

Following last week's story about Hubble who was surrendered by a soldier doing her duty, here is a letter we received recently from a US Army Captain who adopted a dog from us in 2004. He is about to begin his third tour in Iraq and his dog continues to keep the home fires burning for him. He has kept in touch with us about events in his life and about his beloved friend, Zoe also known as Mrs. Milk Bones. We wish John the best of good fortune as he returns to the war and pray for another safe homecoming as quickly as possible.

Greetings to the RCAPA

I know I am quite remiss and late in replying to your note from last year but I just found it among some other mail I had put in a drawer. Lynne (Faltraco) had written me a note…

Brief history on Zoe.....I got her from Ms. Carol (Larlee) in August 2004 and immediately after that got deployment orders to Iraq. Zoe flew with me to Colorado where she lived for the next year with friends of mine and their male yellow lab pup, Darwin. When I returned to get her in November, 2005 it was like we had never been apart, she recognized me immediately and we flew back home together. Zoe is a traveling girl and loves to get out and go. I don't travel much without her. She has traveled extensively this year already with two trips to Michigan and last weekend to KY for a family reunion where she was the star of the show. She is quite well behaved and just wants everyone to love on her. I am on vacation for a couple of weeks and she has enjoyed going to the lake and swimming and retrieving. She has been supervising my landscaping chores and yard mowing each week and really cracks me up.

I have some pictures of her on CD from a visit to the rest home my mother is in located in Michigan that I have enclosed.

I am still in the military and readying to go to Iraq again for another tour early next year. Zoe is going to be staying with my sister and her husband in Michigan. They love her and she loves
them. At the reunion, when my sister went to leave to go back to Michigan I was busy grilling and not paying too much attention to her. I looked up to see my sister's Mini Cooper going down the old farm lane and about 20 yards behind the car at a full run was Zoe. I hollered and she came right back but she does like my sister. She is a good match for both of them.

If you email Carol let her know "Mrs. Milk Bones" AKA Zoe is just fine and happy as heck. Her nickname is based on her favorite treat. She loves a good cookie each day.

Take care,