Meet Zeus
He was only supposed to stay for 3 months
but he stole our hearts forever
Zeus’s Story
When we first heard about him, he was a nine year old Dog waiting for a foster home through SAFE Esperance. He’d spent much of his life isolated, with little chance to learn about the world, other Dogs or how to feel safe with people.
We offered to foster him through our Dog socialisation program for around three months. The hope was to help him build confidence, learn at his own pace & eventually be ready for his next home.
But you can’t undo nine years in twelve weeks. Zeus needed more time, care & support than we first understood. We were working on his confidence, reactivity & sense of safety when, around twelve weeks into his rehabilitation, we found a lump. It was a mast cell tumour.
We faced a choice no foster family expects: take on the treatment ourselves, or risk losing him.
We didn’t see Zeus as a burden. We saw a Dog who had already been let down by people & deserved the chance to feel safe, loved & part of a family. So we chose him.
Since then, he’s become part of our family in the loveliest way. We’ve watched him grow in confidence, build relationships & begin to enjoy the world around him.
That progress has come through patience, careful support & the nervous system work that helps him feel safer in his own body. His medical journey is still ongoing, but we’re right here with him.
We’ll be sharing more of Zeus’s story across our socials & Stories, including how far he’s come and what the journey has really involved. Keep an eye on our Zeus Highlights on Instagram to see him in real life.
We’ve written about his journey from the beginning:
Part One: He was only supposed to stay for three months
Part Two: You can’t undo nine years in twelve weeks
Part Three: What happens when a rescue Dog becomes too expensive?
Part Four: The cost you don’t see on the vet bill
Part Five: We’re still not out of the woods
ways to support Zeus:
book a tribe adventure
A booking with Gypsea Tails helps support the work we do while Zeus remains part of our family.
support his care:
If you’re able to contribute,
Zeus’s GoFundMe is for his ongoing
veterinary care.
share his story
Sharing the blogs or our social posts helps more people understand what Dogs like Zeus can need to feel safe & thrive.
Every Dog deserves the chance to be met with patience, care & unconditional love.
Seeing what can happen when a Dog like Zeus finally gets that chance has changed us.
Thank you for being here & for caring about his story.