INHARMONY’S LADY SILA
Born December 28, 1999 - November 2013 (13 yrs, 11 1/2 mo.)
ChD# AMCA 11,732 Eyes Normal
Sila (pronounced Shee-la) has a meaning of wisdom/virtue. Indeed, this Canine Einstein certainly is an "old soul". She is highly spiritual, very intuitive, and very tightly bonded to me. Sila is Clarissa’s gift to me – she is much like her mother in athletic ability, intellect, appearance, and personality. Like Clarissa, Sila is an outstanding harness worker working in both wheel and lead positions.
Sila (aka "Tweety-pie") delights in doing anything with me. She soaks up lessons very quickly. However, due to her high intellect (is probably the most intelligent dog that I’ve ever worked with), her sensitivity is also heightened, and she does have insecurity issues. We have taken part in a Musical Canine workshop (which she seemed to enjoy) and delights in doing trick work. When Anakin joined the pack, I asked Sila to help me raise him – which she clearly did. They have become wonderful play, work, and kennel mates ever since
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Sila was 13 years, 11 1/2 mo. of age.
Seven days after Sila’s life-long friend, Maia, left us, she let me know very clearly that she was ready to join Maia, Drala, and the rest of her family across the Rainbow Bridge. She left peacefully yesterday (November 20, 2013). Sila had been coping with an inoperable nasty oral tumor for over a year. After she died, her veterinarian and friend Eileen and I checked out the tumor and we were both amazed at the extent of it. (Sila was extremely touchy about her mouth and the last time I was able to get a quick look at it was months ago.) Sila clearly demonstrated a high level of stoicism and determination – something that Alaskan Malamutes do have.
Sila was more than her cancer……. She was extremely intelligent who helped me understand more about the intellects that I term "Canine Einsteins." Sila was also a working girl. She started her harness work in the winter of 2000-01 with her parents (Geoffrey & Clarissa) and brother Drala. In a leader capacity, Sila helped Zhouma, Anakin, and Justin learn about harness work. Her last year in harness was in 2009 working with Anakin. Sila also enjoyed doing tricks. Her favorite tricks were sitting pretty and waving.
Before I left to meet Anakin at an airport in 2003, I told Sila that I was getting a puppy for her to raise – and asked for her help with him. She did an awesome job. Sila was Anakin’s surrogate mother and they were constant kennel mates and good friends.
Although Sila was never bred, she lived a full and well-loved life with me at Inharmony. My very special "Tweety-Pie" is and always will be missed. The kennel is quieter now….. her songs have been silenced--- except in my heart.