Aliy and Allen have shared most of their lives with multiple dogs and have loved every minute. The dogs have been loyal and loving and reminded us all what is good about the world. Unfortunately, as everyone who has ever owned a pet can attest, they just don’t live long enough.
WARNING: Our world can be quite depressing and sad these days so please don’t read this today if you are not up for some more sad news. ❤️
SPK suffered two immeasurable losses this summer that broke our hearts. Olivia and Tig passed away a few months ago, both from short but acute illness.
Olivia was an SP Kennel All Star – she was inducted to the hall of fame in January 2019. She was Wonder Woman incarnate and was a champion sled dog, a mother of champions and incredibly smart who was all business on the trail but very friendly off it. Both Aliy and Allen enjoyed some of their best mushing moments with Olivia on the team. She lived her retirement years with her long-time partner, Nacho. They enjoyed each others company like an old married couple and were together until the last day of Olivia’s life. Olivia passed away just shy of her 13th birthday.
Olivia started to look “thin” in May. Olivia, like many of us healthy women, never had that problem of “being too thin”. Many a Veterinarian at the Yukon Quest or Iditarod would politely ask us… “Uhhh. Is there a chance that this pretty girl is pregnant?” That would have been a rather embarrassing moment for many of us humans, but Olivia would perk up, smile, grab another dog biscuit and leave her humans standing there trying to justify the ‘extra’ couple pounds that their pretty blue-eyed lead dog was hefting around.
So when she started loosing weight, we knew there was something wrong. She was soon diagnosed with diabetes. We really don’t know why. Her twice daily injections of insulin were challenging at first. They became routine and we all did the best we could. (A big thank you to Padee.) However, her blood glucose monitoring continued to be sky high. No amount of insulin could seem to keep her blood glucose levels in check. We brought her in several times to North Pole Vet Hospital for various tests. The last one was the most hopeful: she was still an intact female so perhaps her progesterone levels were too high and thus affecting her insulin absorption. After lab analysis it turned out to be a dead end. Her progesterone level was actually low. Olivia began to have mini seizures at her final hospital visit. In the end, she was diagnosed with uncontrollable, insulin resistant diabetes. There will always be speculation of “what if this” and “what if that”. But, we believe Olivia lived large until her last day and she never regretted a moment of her life.
We buried Olivia on a pretty sunshine day. We had kept ashes from some of our dearest canine companions over the last 15 years. They were stored in a special spot in our custom handmade wooden trophy case. But… it seemed only right to bury Olivia with a dog team. So we buried her along with the ashes of five other dogs. The six dog team that now blesses the hill on the horizon off to the southwest of us is: Olivia, Quito, Schmoe, ChaCha, AJ and Pedro. Lots of memories, lots of smiles and lots of tears that day.
Tig was a summer dog; everything she loved to do happened in the summer! As a youngster, she and Aliy would compete in local field dog trials and she even travelled to Canada with son-in-law Scotty to gather ducks for the dinner table. Later she became a right-hand-dog – helping out, or at least hoping to help out, with everything: mail retrieval, puppy walks, scooping the yard (she would clean up any remaining kibble left behind before the ravens could get it) or watching football. She was comic relief, overtly affectionate and labrador smart.
Tig was having a great summer: running after sticks, barking at squirrels and swimming after salmon. She was also keeping a keen eye on Ziptie – her protege. One evening in July, she jumped down from the Lazy Boy recliner, fell to the ground and had a hard time getting up. We were soon at North Pole Vet Hospital doing tests. Dr. Lovely’s preliminary diagnosis was some form of leukemia. We did further blood draws for analysis at a Laboratory IDEXX in the Lower 48. There was still a chance that she might have had a treatable form of the disease. But, it wasn’t so. Tig’s body gave us the answer loud and clear. She left us even before we got the Lab results (which confirmed leukemia or acute lymphoblastic lymphoma.) Tig passed away just shy of her 12th birthday.
Both of these gorgeous ladies are much missed. We sincerely thank their sponsors and dog fans.
All of us know that it is so hard to be a dog lover. Every dog has a sweetness and sincerity that seeps way down into a human’s soul. There is an incredible sadness that permeates our entire body when this is torn away from us. But, in reality, it is unbelievable that we had such a beautiful thing in the first place. The only thing that equals the love for a dog is the love of a dog.
So very sorry for your loss of 2 incredible girls. Quito was quite the lass and watched her with you on your teams. They will meet you at the 🌈🐾❤️🐾❤️
Oh my, I am so sorry! This news brought tears of sadness and joy. I was in Olivia’s Fan Club for many years. She was such a beautiful and talented soul, and such a wonderful mama. 💚
They will certainly be missed…..good dogs! I’m sure after reading this post we will all hug our pups a little longer tonight…every day is a gift with these wonderful creatures!
Our hearts go out to you – we know all too well the feelings and sadness when we say goodbye to one of our 4-legged friends. Their love will always be with us!
Writing this with tears. Every dog fan, owner, human parent knows the extreme grief of this loss. Aliy and Allen you are the best Alpha Dogs ever, please accept our sincere condolences 💐.
Oh no! I am so sorry to hear this news!! I didn’t know Olivia but I did have the pleasure of caring for Tig and playing fetch!! Best fetcher ever! Tig was a superstar and brought so much joy to the students at Two Rivers school as she backed you up in your presentations!! Tig will be missed. We share in your sadness! Erin, Innoko Boarding Kennel
Someone wise once said to me that dogs give us many of our best days when they are with us and then one of our worst days when it’s time to say goodbye. Rest easy, sweet awesome dogs and my condolences to you ❤.
So sorry Aliy & Allan. I know every SPK dog is very special but some ‘a little bit more ‘special !
Olivia and Tig will be much missed.
Oh my. 2020 continues the trend of ugh. So sorry and yes, dogs, cats, all pets creat such a love around our hearts that it is a measurable gap when they leave us. We are better for having been loved by them. Heart hugs.
“it is unbelievable that we had such a beautiful thing in the first place. The only thing that equals the love for a dog is the love of a dog.”
Well said!
Lot’s of tears reading this post. I hope that Olivia is enjoying herself, waiting for you at the Rainbow Bridge.
Hugs
So sorry to hear of the loss of these two amazing dogs. I’m sure that Olivia is enjoying running with the others that have crossed over the Rainbow Bridge. And am sure Tig is right there making sure everything is just the way it should be. You have wonderful dogs and one can tell with just a look that you love them very much and they feel the same for you. It’s always tough losing our fur babies but I truly believe we will all unite one day.
Crystal you said what I felt so much better than I expressed earlier. Thank you.
Oh Aliy and Allen, I am so so sorry for the loss of two amazing ladies. This definitely brought tears to my eyes. I will always remember Tig helping you out when you had your foot surgery, Aliy. 2020 just keeps on kicking us in the gut, doesn’t it? Poor Nacho, I bet he is one sad pup. Extra love to him and all of you at SPK.
I am so sorry about the precious dogs. They were beautiful
I am so sorry to read this news. I loved following Olivia’s career and the adventures of Tig. My thoughts are with all of you and I know you take great comfort in the love and affection you receive from the rest of your fur babies. 🐾🐾
I’m so sorry about the loss of your 2 ladies. Although we have cats, we know your feelings. Animals are family members.
Our cat Stevie had diabetes 7 of his 9 years of life. It started with 1 injection per day, then 2 per day. At the end the blood glucose level went up and down. We measured it with a human meter in the ear. At the end he had also ketones problems. We went every day to the vet, and he got fluids. He trusted us.
The same with Olivia. It’s so sad that we can’t help more. And Tig also. My condolences!
Dear Aliy and Allen: I know how difficult it was for you to share this sad news. Olivia Jr. and her new family send much love to you and the entire SPK crew. –Junior, Cliff & Family
I am so sorry to hear this news. Olivia is special to me because she was the mother of Barista, of whom I was a fan for several years. My prayers for you and for her partner, Nacho.
And, as the owner of two lab mixes over the years, I mourn with you for Tig. She sounds like a wonderful companion!
Love and thoughts are with you.
Love and thoughts are with you.
Oh Aliy and Allen,
Our hearts are so sad to hear this news. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if our four legged family members could be with us until we take our last breath and we all go mushing off into the sunset? But, we have to bask in the love they gave, celebrate the life they lived and carry them with us in our hearts. Please know we are thinking of you.
Love,
The Straw Ladies
I am so sad to hear of your loss. Olivia was a special lady. I remember seeing her compete a few times, and I LOVED those beautiful blue eyes. I never met Tig, but know she too, was special. Dogs are amazing friends. My thoughts are with you both.
Suz…North Carolina
So sorry for you losses, this was hard to read because Olivia was always very special to me, what a great mama! I’m sure Olivia is running with Quito again! Tig was a great dog as well I enjoyed seeing her help around the kennel 💝😔
What a summer of sadness for Allen, Aliy and SPK. Olivia was a favorite of mine. She was such a fantastic mom and dog at the kennel. Her beautiful blue eyes just always got to me. Nacho must be just lost now.
Tig dressed up and sat for all the pictures like a real trooper. Everyone will unite with each other and the others that have went before including Quito. So Sad and my Sympathy to you all.
Heart breaking. So sorry for your loss of Olivia and Tig
I’m so very sorry for your loss. My heart breaks for all of you who knew these dogs best and cared for them. Job well done Olivia and Tig. You were awesome and now your work on this earth done. Hugs and much love to you all.
Aliy & Allen- I’ve been so devastated by this sad and unexpected news that I haven’t been able to muster a response. I’m so deeply sorry for the loss of your beloved family members. My heart bleeds for loyal Nacho. All at SPK are in my thoughts & prayers. Here’s to that glorious 6 dog team on the hillside!! 💔🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾❣️
It’s hard to lose our dogs but you did the right thing for both of them. My sincere condolences to Aliy, Allen, and all your dogs for the loss of Olivia and Tig, two good and beloved friends.
So sorry for your loss of these two wonderful dogs. My deepest sympathy to Aliy and Allen.
So sad.
Tears and smiles for you and for these two beautiful dogs whom I never met. Warmest thoughts.