Sitka's Final Journey

Kubuna's Dry Run Sitka
April 7th, 2005-November 29th, 2015


If you are reading this obituary I've run across the rainbow bridge into the arms of my Heavenly Father. While I'm sad to leave my humans I'm excited to receive my new body free of pain and worldly concerns. God gave me a wonderful life on earth. I was privileged to have many experiences other animals never get. I traveled as far north as Vermont and as far south as Florida during my 10 1/2 years. I walked the halls of hospitals, nursing homes, and other places encouraging those who were hurting and encouraging them to seek healing emotionally, physically, and spiritually as a therapy dog.

During my time as a therapy dog, I served along side other furry friends as a member of Therapy Dogs and Associates, as well as being the first dog ever certified to go into Central State Psychiatric Hospital, Petersburg, Virginia from the outside world. I was invited to festivals, into stores, and restaurants. I published articles in a small newspaper in Virginia and enjoyed many years blogging. My furry body has been published in several Brown and Trout Alaskan Malamute Calendars including the new issue for 2016. I am May!

My most important job while on earth was being a member of the Perdue Zoo where I tried my best to keep my mom sane and safe. That was a mighty big job. I know she is going to have a tough time for a while. She promised me she would be okay. I gave her a look of doubt with my big brown eyes. She then told me she would "try" to be okay. I know God will see her through; He is faithful. However, I would ask that you extend both my mom and dad lots of grace as they grieve.

Woofs and Wags,
Sitka

Adventures With Sitka In Shenandoah National Park

Mom and I in Shenandoah National Park,

Well, it's been a crazy summer and fall crept up on mom and I. You see, my human siblings have kept mom and dad "very" busy. I'm trying desperately to help them slow down and enjoy each moment of this life.

Recently, I found out I have an ugly disease called Lymphoma. My parents are committed to making the rest of my life awesome. They are cooking for me, spending lots of extra time with me, and as you can see in the picture above they are continuing to take me on adventures. They have slowed the pace as not to overdo it, but continue to help me enjoy life. What more could a fur baby ask for?

Well, I would ask for prayers on behalf of myself and my humans. My humans, especially my mom are having a tough time with my diagnosis. They know I'm an old guy and I've lived a good life, but they long for more "years" with me.

In the picture above you will see the bond between mom and I. We are taking in the view and enjoying our time together. Isn't that what should happen all the time and not just when we realize our time could be limited? My parents have always been extra attentive and overprotective of my furry siblings and I. They've always taken us on lots of adventures and given us lots of love. I pray all humans and furry kids out in the world will know love as I have. It's a beautiful thing. God created us to love and share love. So, keep loving......

Woofs and Wags,
Sitka

Catching Up-2015

Well, it's been a while since I've been allowed to get my furry paws on moms laptop. To say my humans have been busy would be an understatement. However, I can't go into the details or they might get cranky with me. You know how weird humans can be about their privacy and the privacy of others.

How about I tell you what I've been doing lately. In April, I turned TEN years old. I am now officially a senior citizen. I've learned that seniors get extra benefits in the human world and I'm cashing in all my benefits and getting all the attention I can.

Since turning TEN, I've been to the beach twice with excellent accommodations and I have reminded my humans that those accommodations were made because of me and only me. You see my humans would not even know the humans who own the house I've visited if it were not for me. I've introduced them to some wonderful people over the last TEN years and Mr. Doug and Ms. Dianne are just two of them. Of course, these two humans are a little extra special because they too have been owned by malamutes. They understand me!

If you are a human reading this don't underestimate the places your furry children can take you or the people they may introduce you too. As your furry friend, I  want you to understand we have a special connection with God. We can take you places you never would have gone and introduce you to beautiful humans along the way. Yes, there will be some craziness along the way and we might even get you thrown out of a church (DON'T ASK), but we will help you get to the place GOD wants you to be.

Woofs and Wags,
Sitka

Confession

*This picture was taken at our church. Mom did not take it. She thinks our pastor (Mike Maxwell) took it last year.




Many of you know we have been enjoying a beautiful winter wonderland. While some humans do not like snow; we love snow in the Perdue Zoo. So, what does snow have to do with my title "Confession?"

Yesterday, while mom and dad were occupied making vegetable soup, doing laundry, and other such human chores I came upstairs to find those yummy peanuts I have been watching dad eat each night. Temptation got the best of me.

Things were going pretty well until I found my head stuck in the large paper grocery bag dad had been using to put the peanut shells in. I was trying to figure out how to get it off without ripping the bag when I heard dad coming. You see I was taking my time in order to leave no evidence. Unfortunately, time was NOT on my side.

Thankfully, Dad has a wonderful sense of humor. He pulled the bag off my head and laughed at me. I considered being mad at dad for laughing at me until I thought about how silly I must have looked with that brown paper bag on my head. Also, dad didn't even fuss at me. I deserved punishment, but I didn't get it. That my friends is what humans call "grace!"

I understand that God gives my humans "grace" a lot. Therefore, my mom and dad have learned to give "grace" to others, human and furry. I'm thankful they are not selfish with "grace" and share it with us furry kids, too.

If "grace" is new to you I will tell you what I think it means. "Grace" is getting love and forgiveness when I don't deserve it. In fact, it is given to me when I'm the biggest furry mess possible. Let's just say my humans and other humans have given out a lot of grace over my almost ten years of life. Otherwise, I'd have likely had a death sentence by now.

If you are wondering about all my furry sins. Well, guess what? I've done my time more than once and I've been forgiven by both humans and God. So, we don't talk about those things anymore. We focus on the positive and the good. I overheard my dad tell mom a few nights ago, "We all have negative things in our past and if we focus on those we will stay in a bad place. At the same time, we all have done good/great things. If we remember those times when God has used us for good we will find healing, peace, and contentment." I don't know about any of you, but I think these are pretty wise words to live by whether you find your head stuck in a bag of peanut shells or something worse.

Since confession is good for the soul. I'm off to take a peaceful furry nap.

Woofs and Wags,

Sitka

Sitka-Catching Up

For all of you faithful followers, I'm still kicking my furry paws. In my old age I'm enjoying life. Finally, my parents have organized their world more efficiently around my wants and needs and I am fat and happy. This past Monday they even had a surprise Birthday party for one of their Bible study friends and I supervised. Some of their friends had not met me and were quite shocked at my size. It's not a new scenario; when people meet me for the first time they usually say, "I knew he was big, but I didn't realize how big!" Rather than taking this negatively, I just howl. That's my way of looking at the positives. God made me "big!" There is no need to get a complex about it.

Now you know what's happening in the Perdue Zoo. Trouble (elderly ten pound toy poodle) and I are eating, sleeping, and enjoying the rest of our days. We are both thankful for the life we have and the humans God gave us.

Woofs and Wags,
Sitka

Thanksgiving Love

Thanksgiving means many things to many people, but I'm a dog and thanksgiving means "Love" to me. This picture is the hands of the humans who chose me, adopted me, gave me a wonderful home, fed me, trained me, and most importantly loved me when I was not lovable. I don't know about you guys, but I am putting my furry paws together and thanking my Heavenly Father for humans who have never given up on me and believe me I have given them plenty of reasons over the last nine years and five months to do so. I am also thankful for a God who created me, loves me, and understands all my weird ways. I may live out the rest of my furry days with arthritis and altered life adjustments, but I 'm thankful to do so with humans who care. 

Over the next few days, let's count our blessings and thank those who love us. Don't forget to thank God. Life may be difficult or painful, but there are always things we can be thankful for if we look hard enough.

Woofs and Wags,

Sitka

Seasons Are Changing

The seasons are changing again and with each change Trouble (poodle) and I (Sitka/Alaskan Malamute) get a little older. Older comes faster in our furry world than it does for most humans. I suppose God allows us to have shorter and fuller lives with our humans so we can have longer lives in eternity with Him. I understand in heaven everyone gets along and there is no more pain. I love my furry life here on earth, but I must admit "no more arthritis" is sounding pretty good. And, then there is the part about "no more sorrow." I don't know about you guys, but I have trouble comprehending "eternal happiness." That puts new meaning to "Happy, Happy, Happy!" I know it all goes a lot deeper than this, but what if we looked at our earthly lives as preparation for our eternal lives? No offense, but I think we animals do a better job at this than humans. We are more content and it takes less to make us happy. Trouble and I think it's because we are content and happy just to be in the presence of those we love whether few or many. Trouble and I do like to have our breakfast and dinner on time, but we understand there is no shortage of yummy food in heaven and we don't even have to watch or waistline there. So, it sounds like our earthly issues will be taken care of on the other side.

Woofs and Wags,
Sitka

Sitka Checking In

To say that lots has been going on in our world would be quite an understatement. Life just keeps happening with humans and furry kids alike. Sickness of humans and furry friends, death of humans and furry friends, and much more.

I/Sitka am getting older. I'm almost ten doggie years old and for a giant breed I suppose that makes me around a 100 human years old. They say wisdom is found in us old guys, but I don't know how much stock you should place in that. What I have come to realize is life is way too short on earth, but thankfully we can look forward to an eternity with our Heavenly Father who created us. I don't know about all of you, but I'm ready to embrace the "no more pain or sorrows" promised when I enter heaven. Arthritis is a big pain, but what's even harder is watching lots of humans struggle and suffer in this life. I don't like it and I thankful God understands that I don't like it.

If life keeps happening I don't know when I will write again, but I will. I just have to wrangle moms laptop a little more often. Let's keep praying for all those who we know are struggling and hurting in both the human and furry world. Each or valued and treasured in the heart of God.

Woofs and Wags,
Sitka

A Furry Soul

Last week, my humans took Trouble and I to the mountains for the day. We love traveling and roaming around in God's beautiful creation. Life gets complicated and it does the furry soul good to get away. A stroll through a meadow helps renew and restore us to the creatures God created us to be. It really is that simple when we slow down and focus on the ONE who loves us most.

So, if you are a little cranky or frustrated take walk or a drive. Get out into the beautiful creation around you and focus on the ONE who loves you most. HE is waiting to soothe your soul whether it's furry or not.

Woofs and Wags,

Sitka

Sneaky Snake

Two days ago during our morning stroll I saw Dad grab trouble and run back to the house. My Dad is 71 years old. He doesn't run unless there is a good reason, so I took off running and quickly caught up with he and Trouble. Dad tossed Trouble and I into the florida room and went back to the woods behind the house. It turns out he had seen a large copperhead and didn't want us to get bit. By the time Dad returned to find and eliminate the threat of danger, the snake was gone. Both Mom and Dad have been on the look out, but haven't seen him. Apparently, we have a very "sneaky snake" lurking around. We all hope he finds a new home to lurk around and stays out of our back yard.

We pray all our human and furry friends will stay safe and be on alert for danger. You never know what lurks around the corner on the path you travel. 

Woofs and Wags,
Sitka