Liller, leader extraordinaire, faithful and loyal friend, toughest of tough Alaskan dogs, mother of our racing pups, matriarch of our current kennel... we lost her today to cancer. Xrays showed it had invaded her body. There was a large tumor in her chest midline, not observable on the exterior.
Being the stoic and tough Mama dog that she is, just three days ago she was asking to go in harness when we ran. I was tempted to take her, and perhaps, now, I wish I had, but this morning she was fading away right in front of me. I rode with her to the vet's and held her in my arms.
Thank you, beautiful, tough, loyal of most loyal, Liller. Liller ran Iditarod 2001, Jackpine 30, several times, and various Wisconsin races. Her pups with Skinny were a great gift to us.
Her training skills will be missed so much . Mostly I will miss her sweet howl and kindness toward me. She did not enjoy being a house dog but she went on many trail walks with me as well. She leaves her pups: Ruthie, Ruby, Kiddo, Quattro, Buffy, Medio, Herman, Josie, Evalina, Matilda and two in New York, Yukon (Emmett) and Quest( Isabella) and her granddaughter, Sherpa. Josie will miss her the most, she was a Mama's dog.
Photo: Liller and daughter Buffy leading into the finish line of the Jackpine 30.
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