“Zeus” Morrison

In Loving Memory of Zeus

For 8 incredible years, I had the privilege of calling Zeus mine.

I first saw Zeus in a Facebook post from a local pound, and from the second I saw his face, I knew he had to be mine. There was something about him I cannot explain, I just knew. Before I ever met him, before I ever brought him home, I somehow knew he was going to be with me forever.

When I went to the pound to pick him up, they told me part of his story. Zeus had been found in an enclosure in an abandoned field with a puppy. He had bite marks on his body, and they believed he had been protecting that little puppy from predators.

Looking back now, that story feels like the perfect introduction to who Zeus was.

Before he was ever my protector, before he ever knew my children, before he ever had a family of his own to watch over, Zeus was already protecting someone smaller and more vulnerable than himself.

Being a protector wasn’t something Zeus learned from us.

It was simply in his blood.

And somehow, of all the people in the world, that extraordinary dog became mine.

But Zeus was never just a dog. He was family. He was protection, comfort, strength, and love in its purest form. He was my protector, my soulmate, my angel, and my warrior.

Even at 12 years old, Zeus never really seemed old to me. He was still strong, active, proud, and fearless, all the way until the end. He carried himself like he had forever ahead of him. He was simply Zeus. The same beautiful, powerful boy I had loved for so many years.

From the second I stepped through the door, Zeus followed me everywhere. Room to room, wherever I went, he was right behind me until the moment I climbed into bed at night, and then he climbed in beside me.

Every single night, Zeus slept with me. I will forever miss his warmth, his weight beside me, the sound of him settling into bed, and the peace of knowing my boy was right there. He wasn’t simply beside me while I slept. He made me feel safe enough to sleep.

Zeus loved his entire family with everything he had, but he especially loved his “kids”. They grew up knowing what it felt like to have Zeus watching over them. He protected my babies simply by being himself, and they will always know they had one of the most incredible dogs imaginable loving them.

Zeus protected me, too, in ways I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

There were moments when protecting me cost him something. He put himself between me and danger numerous times.

He did not run. He did not hide. He did not abandon me.

He stood for me.

That was Zeus.

He was a warrior, not because he was aggressive, but because his courage came from love. Underneath that big, strong body was one of the gentlest and sweetest souls imaginable. Zeus loved people. He seemed to believe everyone he met could become his friend.

And there was something different about him.

Zeus was soulful.

There was something behind those beautiful eyes that felt deeper than words. Sometimes when he looked at me, I truly felt as though he understood things I had never even said out loud. He knew me. He knew my children. He knew my family. He knew when something was wrong, when one of us needed comfort, and somehow he always knew exactly where he was supposed to be.

He wasn’t simply living in our home.

He was part of the heart of it.

Zeus walked beside us through chapters of our lives that very few people could ever completely understand. Through absolutely everything, he remained steady, loving, loyal, fearless, and unbelievably gentle.

I will miss that big 75-pound presence walking through the house. I will miss his face, his eyes, the sound of him moving from room to room, the way he followed me everywhere, and the way an entire room somehow felt fuller simply because Zeus was in it.

But he will never become some distant memory.

We will say his name. We will tell his stories. My children will remember how strong he was, how gentle he was, how fiercely he loved his family, how safe he made us feel, and how he protected us when we needed him most.

We will remember our warrior.

And I truly believe this is not the end of us.

I believe there will come a day when I see Zeus again. And when that day comes, I hope he comes running.

Not walking. Not tired.

Running.

I hope he is young again. I hope his beautiful body is strong and perfect, his legs never hurt again, and he can run as fast and as far as he wants. I hope he is lying in warm sunshine, eating everything he loves, surrounded by kindness and knowing nothing but peace.

And when I climb into bed and instinctively reach for the place where he should be, I hope some little part of my sweet boy is still beside me.

Thank you, Zeus, for eight incredible years.

Thank you for every snuggle and every night beside me. Thank you for making me feel safe. Thank you for protecting us. Thank you for being our shield, for loving our family with everything you had, and for being the kindest, strongest, most soulful boy.

Thank you for somehow choosing us.

Zeus passed away in his mother’s arms on October 5th after a fierce battle with osteosarcoma and lung cancer, surrounded by the family he had spent his life loving and protecting.

We will forever be grateful to Dr. Turnbull, who gave all of us such peace, compassion, and comfort as we said goodbye to Zeus where he belonged. In the safety of his own home, surrounded by the people who loved him most.

Zeus, you spent your life protecting us. And I will eternally be grateful. Now you can rest.

You can simply be my sweet boy. My sweet “pudge.” 

One day, I hope those soulful eyes recognize me immediately. I hope you come running to me, and I get to wrap my arms around my big boy again somewhere nothing can ever hurt you.

You were one of the greatest gifts I was ever given. You saved me in ways I will probably never fully understand.

You were my protector.

My soulmate.

My angel.

My warrior.

My Zeus.

And you always will be.

Until we meet again, I love you forever. Thank you for everything, my sweet baby.