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BIO
The story of Zack's long life begins in an animal shelter in Naples and then Fort Myers. He barked so loud and so long at night he was kept in a special crate at the front desk, away from the other dogs. Thus, he was the first dog Allen saw, when he went looking for a pooch for his mom and Dad. They had just moved to Florida and were in the first floor apartment at The Noddy Tern House, as we affectionately called it. Zack jumped right into Allen's lap and immediately fell asleep, to the astonishment of all. He became a Lincoln right then and there.
For the first several years, Zack belonged to "Grand-dad Adrian", a masterful strict ruler of many a pooch in his years. Zack got his free food treats from "Grannie Annie", who loved to feed him from her dish at the table, and Adrian could never say no to her.
The town of Fort Myers Beach was introduced to Zack by Adrian's many walks to the bank, the beach, the post office and the financial advisor's office for free coffee and a chat with all his favorite people. Zack would always walk tight on the left, with the leash stretched hard across Adrian's rump and up to his far hand. In truth, they both kept each other in line and upright, as they walked, steady and sure.
Why was Zack called "The Seagull"? Because his high-pitched short barks at the entrance of any person (especially if he was left alone for a while) would convince anyone they were at the beach with a shrieking bird. He also loved beach birds-- to watch the Roseate Spoonbills fly and land in caravan at the low-tide lagoons, and occasionally to give chase if off-leash for a moment.
He loved to sing! He loved to howl! He could pick up a tune and did a pretty good job of singing off key to The National Anthem. He would just about croon "I looooove you" if you sang it with him. As sure as a wolf, his head would go back for a howl.
Adrian's daily trips to the beach with Zack inspired a lifelong love affair with the sand, and perhaps Zack's regular escapes across Estero Blvd to his beloved shoreline was his way of saying his daily sunbake on the shoreline should not end, after Adrian died.
Before then, Adrian realized this energetic dog was getting stronger as he was getting weaker, and it was time for him to move upstairs with the younger Lincolns. Zack had occasionally seen the two cats Oreos and Snickerdoodle coming down the back stairs to the pool lanai, but now he was moving in. And Oreos instantly made sure he knew who was the Alpha, hovering threateningly over him! Zack put his head down between his paws, and accepted his role as third pet on the totem pole. He was as submissive as could be to the cats.
But only those cats! Any other were his delight to chase. Nothing made him happier than a non-family feline giving grief to Snickerdoodle and Oreos. Like Pepe Le Pieu he pranced with delight and chased with blisteringly fast joy and crooning howl. At any chance a blur of two creatures struck to the edge of property and to the trees.
He made friends with a few other dogs and was not afraid at all of the very large ones. The only dogs he did not like on the beach were bulldogs-- one look from 100 feet away and he headed the other direction. They never wished him any harm!
Why was Zack called "Houdini?" He was a master at finding the quick silent exit out the multiple doors of the beach house the brief half -second they were open behind a departing shoe. Every gate daintily climbed; Each Lanai screen secretly ripped from its bottom to offer a hole; all locked screen doors pushed to juuuust squeeze through; an underground electric fence run through no matter the voltage; a lap-sit or rest at the feet but a waiting game for human sleep or distraction and... lickety split down the stairs! He knew every bush and every corner good to hide, and when to gallivant into the ditch-wash to the beach. With so many caregivers coming about for Anna and Adrian, and so many teenagers in and out visiting Gabriel and Eliot, chances to be Houdini were monthly, if not more. Zack became known around the whole island over the years, with many a call to The Noddy saying "Are you missing a wonderful dog?"
At first, we used to offer rewards for his return. But then the bank account suffered. Eventually, people turned on us Lincolns, wondering why he was so anxious to leave us!
He wasn't leaving... he just loved his grand adventures out-- an hour on the beach, a ride in some car often with another dog, a steak dinner, and poof! like magic his master appeared at the door to take him home. A contrite look at his angry family was enough to set things to normal. Except for the cage. How he hated the cage, and would keep the neighborhood awake if put in it. We all just learned to live with Zack's need for adventure.
One time he adventured... and we could not find him. He was gone for a week, with storms. No calls, no chip finder report. Finally, on a holiday weekend, a vet called. He was emaciated, dehydrated, and wearing another person's collar on him. At first he was mighty glad to see Allen. But then.... bark bark bark "Where were you? You always magically appear! You were due to pick me up days ago!" Zack's glare lasted a couple days. He didn't attempt a departure for quite some time after that, though.
Zack was a true travel dog-- he loved the car. And he loved Winter! A favorite place was to go visit the North Georgia Mountains at Christmas or Thanksgiving. When he realized after the long car ride that we were descending down the mountain to the log cabin over the river, he would croon and howl with joy. He loved to run free on the crunch of the leaves, perhaps snow on his sniffing nose, and to chase the deer--until they turned and told him no more! At least once he actually swam across the river, in protest to just sitting while the humans fished. It was the only place you could count on him to actually return to the house off leash... eventually.
Zack was beautiful to watch in full run. Living on an island with canals, if he got off leash and decided to take off, it was only to the end of the street he could go. He flew like the wind, raced like a thoroughbred.
He was a well-loved rascally beach dog having the time of his life.
And then the fire happened. Allen came home to him barking at the fire alarms, and pointing his nose at the fire in the kitchen. He raced out the door, and despite effort soon Allen did after.
For several weeks we lived on the Beach Baptist Church retreat grounds, in a dorm room. Zack still found a couch to sit in, and the church welcomed all of us, pets and all. We moved to the mainland to a townhome complex, where zack made many small dog friends. Escape was no longer possible. He became a true leash-dog.
Allen and Zack and Snickerdoodle (Oreos was no more) moved to the East Coast. There, Zack became best buds with Allen's nephew Ari, who immediately recognized and availed himself of one of Zack's greatest talents.... being a "Young Gal Magnet"! Zack loved the ladies... and the ladies loved him! Zack appreciated visits to Ari's apartment much more than Allen's studio-- this dog had been used to living large on an island, not a one-room hovel and then a tent!
In Hollywood FL, Zack made fast friends with a short white sausage of a pooch with a head two times two big! He was always unleashed, fast, as Zack was a bit older, and loved to pick barking fights with the fenced dogs. Zack's aggressive side suddenly appeared on our walks, and he would yank the leash to join, two small free dogs against the fenced evils of the world.
One time he saw a cat to chase and yanked free. This cat decided it should go the other way around. Sending its hair out three times Zack's size, she jumped all four paws of claws landing on his back and rode him. The other dog charged... and charged home just as quickly whimpering loudly at the face-swipe of dagger-claw. Zack rolled out from under--- but he never fully recovered. His lower back always hung after that.
One day, we drove to North Georgia mountains, and kept going, all the way up to a new apartment in Virginia. A new life, and ultimately a final chapter for Zack, who had now started to keep the color of snow on his muzzle, and paws, and around his ears.
Here, he discovered a community of retirees, going one or more days a week with Allen to work. How he was loved by the retirement community residents, and their friendly dogs too! Zack tolerated many a petting, and sitting on wheelchair laps, and glad to get front desk treats. He loved to walk along the pond, and across the walking trails. At night, there were sounds of the coyotes in the distance, but he could no longer hear them. He looked for treats tossed to him, but often could not easily see... Zack had an expressive face, but his naps were long, and soon Allen could run faster than him. He was an elder dog.
A new family appeared in his life. Neighbors down the road took care of him daily and spoiled him rotten, gladly. When Gabriel and Eliot visited, he expressed whimpers and song of joy at their appearance from the airport-- but young masters were always there for him almost daily-- Allison, Tim and Hunter became his expanded family.
One day, Zack jumped down from the bed, and yowled with pain. His front leg limped. As he recovered the following week, his back legs stopped working well. It was like a super-fast palsy. Then he lost all control of the back of his body. He was in pain, growling to move, breathing slow and heavy. His full life was fully lived. His body broken, it was time to go. With love and kisses, a trip to the vet, a final lick and hug brought things to a close, and he was gone. The forever memories bear our sadness, and our joy.