Queen Zoey: Not as Spoiled as One Might Think (Though Still Spoiled)

Yesterday I showed you pictures of Queen Zoey in her palanquin. Zoey lives with her staff  (my friends M and B), M’s parents, and her court jester (a little black and white “super Papillon” named Nigel). She is absolutely one of my favorite dogs ever.

If someone were to tell Zoey that Shelties were bred to be herding dogs, surviving the extreme conditions on the Shetland Islands, she might explain to you that that is the peasant stock. Royalty, such as her, should not ever have to be out in the wind and rain, and walking in mud is completely unacceptable.

Her staff has not always been so accommodating. M, B, and Nigel all like going on walks, and not just on the nicely paved sidewalks of their neighborhood, but hiking, out in the dirt and nature, with leaves and pine needles that might get stuck in Queen Zoey’s coat. It was really an unhappy situation. In fact, there were days when she was quite, quite happy to be left in the car while Nigel went to romp in the dog park.

Still, M would occasionally force her to walk on the beach or in the woods. And Zoey was not happy about it. Then, about a year ago, the royal veterinarian gave M some news that changed everything. It’s not so much that Zoey doesn’t like walking, it’s that she has severe arthritis in her legs. It’s not nature that bothers her (well, nature does bother her, but not so much that she would prefer not to be with her people), it’s the pain. M has rheumatoid arthritis herself, so certainly understands.

And that’s when M found the palanquin on Craigslist. It had been a very expensive stroller for human babies at one point, but M has done some modifications to make it more comfortable for Zoey. It is a jobbing stroller with all terrain wheels, so now the Queen can accompany her staff and court jester on all of their outings, without having to put one paw in mud, or end up in pain.

Those of us who know Queen Zoey do think it would be great of the palanquin could be painted pink and covered with bling. Zoey is very much a girly girl (which M is not).