Neighborhood Watch

Let me kick off our return with a Zoe Tale...

So my sister, the original Zoe Tale champion asked what Zoe's return to the "scene of the crime" was like. Although Zoe did not chase off any neighbors during our recent stay at my mother's house, she did remain vigilant in patrolling the neighborhood during our daily walks.

For example, one day Zoe and Gracie both decided to confront a neighborhood interloper. A young man turned down our street while walking his leashed dog. Unfortunately this was a new young man and new dog we had not previously encountered. Therefore they needed to be warned that this was Zoe's hood. Let me remind you that Zoe is a little over 3 pounds which apparently is not a concept that her Chihuahua brain can comprehend. This same brain compelled Zoe to rush out to greet the new dog and let it know what's what. You can probably guess the punchline - yes, it was a Pit Bull that received the growling and yapping greeting of two deranged Chihuahuas. Fortunately for us all the Pit Bull was beautifully mannered and fully under the control of it's young walker. They both stood there looking a bit confused by the insane toy dog posse and then just calmly walked away once I had pulled off the viscous beasties.

Zoe, however, saved her true wrath and thunder for the real threats to the neighborhood - not elderly power walkers, not pitbulls, not tree stumps, but rather the ominous neighborhood evildoer - the brick on the tree stump.

Yes, the brick on the tree stump was spotted one lovely late summer morning on our street. And Zoe would have none of it. Zoe strained mightily at the end of her leash as she lunged, barked incessantly and sought to single pawedly rid our block of hell-on-earth that nasty brick was plotting to unleash. Why, you might ask, did nobody else recognize this obvious threat? Such is the mystery and power of Zoe and why I tell her tales. Just as the elderly morning walkers never returned after being on the receiving end of the wrath of Zoe, the brick never reappeared on the tree stump or dared to show it's evil face on our block again. And my mother's neighbors rested well and easy for the remainder of our stay.