Saying good-bye to a best friend, saving another

Published Sunday, March 16, 2008

By Brandon Evans

About four months ago Zoe was diagnosed with multiple heart conditions. She had an irregular heartbeat and an enlarged heart. It's a relatively common condition in the boxer breed.

It just hit Zoe at an early age. She had just turned 7 in January.

In an effort to reverse the condition, Joseph began spending hundreds of dollars per month on medications. Despite the best efforts of everyone involved, Zoe died in her sleep last Thursday.

The death of Zoe prompted an outcry of emotions from the student body. Joseph received scores of handmade letters from students throughout the school. She also received condolences of flowers and stuffed animals.

But after being unable to save Zoe, Joseph knew there were still plenty of other animals in need of help.

Dr. Jeff Harrison, a veterinarian at Decatur Veterinary Clinic, said many people are left with a need to help other animals after watching their pet die.

Joseph found out a lot of people are unable to pay for the necessary medical treatments for their pets.

"What can we do to help other people that can't afford the services needed for their dog?" Joseph asked. "Dogs are routinely put to sleep because their owners can't afford the procedure... I had to do something."

In response, Joseph established "Zoe's Fund" at the Decatur Veterinary Clinic. People can contribute to the fund, which is then used to help provide medical procedures for pets that the owners can't afford themselves.

If one wants to contribute, they can mail or drop off a donation to "Zoe's Fund" at the clinic. The clinic is located on 2101 S. College Ave.

The students at Carson have already contributed heavily to the fund. On Wednesday morning, students from each grade level started tossing their change into a bucket for "Zoe's Fund." After only two days, the kindergarten class had already collected 44 pounds of coins for the fund.

"It's hard for some of the younger children to understand," Joseph said of Zoe's death. "Some of them think she has just gone away for a while."

With the help provided by Zoe's Fund, her legacy can continue to live for a long time.