That is Zoe, my wunder hunde, and here is her story.
My daughter had wanted a dog for YEARS and my son had reached the age where he was dog agreeable. We had 2 cats -
both with short tails). One night, while they were at their dad's, I realized it was time for dog shopping. We were in process of adopting at our local Humane Society shelter but someone beat us to her. The shelter employees literally took the dog out of the hands of my 14 year old daughter who cried.
So, I looked online at rescue groups in our area on
www.petfinders.com and found a dog whose story touched me....she and 7 other puppies had been rescued from a 12x12 pen and had no human contact unless someone came out to feet them. She was a 10 month old blue heeler/terrier mix: crate trained, almost house-trained, spayed, and delayed but progressing in social skills. She was gentle, loving, and submissive.
We got the required supplies, compiled a list of possible names, and went to meet her. Just before the foster parents got her out of their van, I told one of my children that it would be a sign that she was ours if she had a short tail. Sure enough, she has only a button of a tail. She and the children took to each other so we headed home with her.
That day, she started responding to the name "Zoe" which means 'life'. And she seemed to prefer my daughter.
Fast forward about 9 days....daughter's guidance counselor from school calls just as we are getting ready to leave for work/school. My daughter had basically left a suicide note on her locker and it had been found. Within 12 hours, she was in an adolescent psychiatric hospital being treated for depression.
I took her school books to her because they have a certified school program there. She couldn't have family pictures there but I managed to get a photo of the dog tucked into one of the books. 8 days later, she was better and came home after disclosing that my only nephew had been sexually abusing her for over 18 months.
The picture of the dog had helped her find the courage to speak the words she feared. Zoe (Life) helped my daughter regain her life. She is not only part blue heeler but she is totally 'blues healer'.
(My daughter is doing well. You would not know what we've been through unless you heard the story. She is in college and still calls the dog her 'baby'. But the dog continues her happiness unabated even though only son and I are at home.)