10/21/2025
Nala, I hope the rainbow bridge is full of beautiful fields for you to soak up every ray. 🌞🌈💕🐾
Nala's family was with her as she took her last breath last night, and her Momma had the strength to send me a message and let me know this evening.
I am not sure how, because just training this girl, knowing her for such a small percentage of her beautiful life. I am having the hardest time typing this tribute.😭
There are a few dogs from Wetaskiwin (my starting county in Alberta, about 8 years ago), that started my buisness.
Being not an overly large town, I moved to Wetaskiwin,not intending to use my certification and not planning to train here.
But life is funny, someone found out I had dog training experience and it snowballed into the wondeful word of mouth my buisness is blessed with today.
Nala was one of two of my hardest initial cases upon moving here. She was extremely fear reactive to nearly everything, and everyone. Barking, lunging and making everyone around her scared to walk her, or walk near her if they weren't family. 🐶
Her family dedicated a lot of investment into Nalas training with me, multiple times a week in the beginning.
She went from not letting me near her for appointment after appointment. To myself being her trusted walker, because her Momma needed confidence, and knew she wasn't there yet.
I walked her for years, at the request of her Mom, and finally when her Momma was ready (Bravely heavily pregnant), she took that leash.💪🏻
There was no stopping them when she did, from a pair that couldn't walk down the street, to a confident team walking past anything and everyone. Even when the day came a baby was added to the mix, the girl who we once upon a time worried so much about, was still by her best friends side, baby in tow and a companion to that baby.👶🏻
There was so much hard work that went into behaviourally modifying this girls reactions and teaching her to make cognitive responses that helped her feel secure. But the memories and moments we shared are something I will absolutely never forget. Something I will forever cherish. 🥺❣️
There are times when getting to know people, I forget names, and information. Being ADHD that's something that comes with the territory, but the dogs and humans who I spend endless hours with, I not only never forget, I also never will get a piece of my heart back when they're gone. 💔
Nala included. I look forward to gaining that piece back when I see her over that rainbow one day, like so many of the dogs I have been blessed in this job to know.
Nala girl, I will never forget you, please keep watch up there, and one day when they're ready, guide that perfect dog to your beautiful little family left behind on this plane. 🐾
To Nala's family, I know my grief is a fraction of what your home is experiencing, but thank you so much for trusting me with your girl. It was an honor to know/love her, and its an honor to know a family that loves their dogs so compassionately & as unconditionally as they love us.
Each of these photos are throughout various parts of my time with her, including dog sitting more recently for them! ❤️🩹
