Zeus wasn’t supposed to stay.

He was returned to his breeder at six years old after being diagnosed with epilepsy. He was taken in as a foster by Liz and Tom—groggy and barely able to walk from being over-medicated.

With time, patience, and a lot of trial and error, his new caretakers found the right balance. The fog started to lift. And underneath the medication was a big, happy, huggable boy who was ready to shine.

“After about 18 months of fostering Zeus, we were at the dog park. Zeus was running ahead … and looked back at us. He stared directly at Tom with the biggest smile on his face. I looked at Tom and he was smiling back. I said, ‘He’s ours now, isn’t he?’ There was no need for an answer. Zeus had chosen his home.”

Over the next six years, Zeus became a permanent fixture in their lives. His seizures never fully disappeared—each one was a heartbreak—but he was never alone through any of it. With a devoted support system, friends who understood his condition, and a veterinarian and neurologist who loved him, Zeus lived a life full of love, snuggles, and understanding.

Epilepsy is rare in Samoyeds. No one ever found the cause of Zeus’s seizures, and no other relatives were affected. But his legacy lives on—in memories, in the joyful trail of nieces and nephews he left behind, and now, in a painting that honors not just his presence, but his perseverance.