Passing of a friend

Every day for fourteen years he smiled in the morning, wagged his tail, licked our face. He was a gentle soul, with deep brown eyes and an unending supply of fur. Determined, loyal, and dependable, he led our team to Nome and many other wonderful destinations. Laika was a great leader and friend.

Yesterday, after two days of rapid decline we said good-bye to our buddy, Laika, pictured above with brother, Sontu. Now sister, Cassie, and archrival and fellow fouteen something, Tuffy, have one more dog bed or couch spot to choose. Over the past few years we have joked with friends that Tuffy and Laika had an ongoing competition as to who would outlive the other. They really did not like each other and Laika would regularly torment Tuffy simply with his presence. Tuffy, thinker that he is, would periodically try to "free" Laika by opening the front door and allowing Laika to tour the neighborhood, hoping he would not return.

The past year was a bit comical. Laika was very deaf but Tuffy did not know this. So, whenever Laika walked nearby, Tuffy would growl a threatening warning. Of course, Laika could not hear him so he proceeded unaware of Tuffy's increasingly angry warning to not invade his space. At some point we would intervene, like good parents, creating a buffer between to two grumpy old men.

Life will never be quite the same for any of us. Devan and I will truly miss the mobile blanket of fur who kept us warm on the couch and taught so much on the trail. Cassie will miss her litter and kennel mate who kept he company from -40 to +90 degrees, from Webster to Contoocook to Wasilla and finally Two Rivers. And Tuffman will miss the challenge of beating Laika to the finish line....