Editor’s Note:
This is a story that serves as nice little metaphor for persistence, a trait that’s so vital for us creatives to possess.
Whether it’s singing, painting, dancing, writing, or any other creative-based pursuit, there’s no guarantee that it’s going to work out. Unlike your standard 9-to-5 job, say… an accountant. You go to school. You get the degree. You get the job. Sure, some accountants are better than others and there’s a number of certifications you can attain to level up, but it’s pretty much guaranteed that you’re going to find work as an accountant if you get the standard credentials.
You can go to school to be an artist, study under the greats, put together a masterful gallery that you and your peers feel deem absolutely incredible, but unless the art world or some rich collector thinks your work is fascinating, you’re probably not going to get what you think your gallery is worth.
I don’t want to be a downer, it’s a win just to make a living doing what you love. It’s a privilege even. I’d rather spend my days writing, teaching, and creating than I would pushing pencils and project managing medical ads with endless side effects like I did for a few years, even if I don’t make the same kind of coin.
Then it’s time to create the next painting and set of paintings and continue to do that over and over until you make a name (and a dollar) for yourself. Even the local scene, no matter the craft, can be challenging to break into. So while we all continue to pursue our craft with confidence, conviction, and vigor, let us be inspired by a dog named Zoe.

336 Days of Hope and Love

Zoe IS a survivor, through and through.

In early 2024, she was rescued from a notorious puppy mill — one of the lucky few to make it out. She was small, too tiny to be used for breeding, which made her disposable in the eyes of the mill’s owners. Thankfully, they surrendered her to a rescue organization, and that’s where her life began to change.

When Brendan and Amanda first laid eyes on Zoe, they knew she deserved better. A life full of love, care, and safety. They adopted her without hesitation, determined to give her the kind of life she had never known.

But just nine days into their journey together, fate intervened. Amanda had to leave town for a weekend trip, and Zoe stayed with Brendan at his mother’s home in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania — a quiet, peaceful town about 70 miles from their own. Zoe seemed to settle in, enjoying the calm, the space, and the chance to stretch her legs. But the peace didn’t last.

While out in the backyard on a leash, Zoe managed to slip her head through a gap in the fence. Her collar snagged on a metal picket and, in a flash, snapped. She was gone before anyone could stop her. Brendan ran after her, heart pounding, but she was already out of sight.

They were devastated. Panic set in — where could she be? What direction had she gone? Desperate for answers, they turned to social media and posted about Zoe. That’s when the power of community came into play.

A group called Find Toby PA stepped in, and a volunteer named Kim showed up at the house ready to help. She brought maps, strategy, and determination. Together, they plotted sightings, hung flyers, and even set traps. Every night ended with hope — that maybe Zoe would return to a place where she’d felt safe. But Zoe was scared. The more people searched, the farther she ran.

March 30th, Amanda’s birthday, was one of the most difficult days of all. Brendan and Amanda were so close — just one yard away from Zoe. She looked at them, eyes locked for a moment that felt like forever… and then she bolted. Gone again. It broke their hearts. But they understood: Zoe wasn’t just lost. She was traumatized, and her fear had taken over.

Still, they refused to give up.

With the help of a kind stranger offering a drone, they tracked Zoe from above and got within feet of her. But again, she slipped away, leaping a fence and disappearing into the woods. That would be the last time they saw her — for a long time.

Months went by. The woods fell silent. Sightings faded. People gently suggested they move on. But Brendan and Amanda never did. Zoe was their family. And family doesn’t get left behind.

Then, in September, a flicker of hope: a sighting — nearly 40 miles from where Zoe had last been seen. It seemed impossible, but they held onto it. That’s when another hero entered the story: a volunteer named Carrie.

Carrie quietly and patiently watched. She had sightings of Zoe in the area and set up trail cameras to track her movements. She watched patterns emerge — Zoe was cautious, elusive, but consistent. When she appeared at the same business two Saturdays in a row, Carrie made a decision. She placed a trap and a camera at the location, hoping Zoe would return again.

And then, at 4 a.m., Zoe walked into the trap. Just like that, after 336 long days — the search was over.

On February 21st, Amanda happened to have Brendan’s phone in her hand when Kim called. She answered, and heard the words they had waited nearly a year to hear: “We found Zoe. She’s safe.”

The next morning, they drove with hearts pounding — filled with a mix of disbelief, hope, and overwhelming emotion. And when they saw her — their girl, their little survivor — safe and sound, it felt like time stopped.

Zoe had been on the run for almost a year, but in that moment, every heartache, every sleepless night, every moment of fear and doubt, melted away. She was finally home.

Her journey was long and difficult, filled with moments of despair, but also with incredible resilience, unwavering hope, and the deep love of two people who never gave up. Zoe’s story is not just about survival — it’s about connection, devotion, and the quiet heroes who stood by her side.

Brendan and Amanda’s family will never be the same — because now, it’s whole again.

And Zoe?

She’s exactly where she belongs.

The Greater Dog

The Brendan in this story is Brendan Johnson, lead singer of the band Stella Ruze. We’ve featured them on The City Root a number of times and so it’s no secret that their new music and their recently released documentary (shot by Kobe Dog Productions) is in heavy rotation right now.

While the new album is similar to their best music of the past, enjoyable anywhere, anytime, they do take some slight departures, leaning away from Lumineers and closer to Bob Marley and the Wailers… literally, with their “Is This Love?” cover

Enjoy the new albums and the docuseries that goes right along with it!