A new home for Chilaili

January 9, 2005 - Only with here own well-being in mind, we have decided to find new owners for Chilaili. We have found a great new home for here in Middelburg (The Netherlands).

Saying goodbye to her is hard, but we had her interests to consider. The main reason to decide to grant her a new life is that we have been advised by a specialised orthopedic animal surgeon not to let her run in front of a cart or sled anymore, due to the inborn OCD (severa artosis, in here case in her elbows).

We hate having to leave here behind every time we run a tour with the others. That is a problem we already experience (she's inconsolable) but will be even bigger in the future as we are working towards running mid-distance races. Chilaili actually cries out in sadness when she can't join the team.

Secondly Chilaili has always been the underdog in our pack (she's just too sweet for her own good). Being human, that is difficult to see, but you can't do anything about it. Her isolated position becomes an increasing problem now that she can't be in the team anymore.

Of course we (over-)compensate by giving here lot's of attention ourselves, for which the jealous others punish her later. The consequence of it all is that she's afraid to even come up to us and hides out in a corner somewhere...

This downward spiral combined with the fact that she's still a very young dog, have led to the difficult decision to give her up. Really tough, as our dogs are in our hearts and souls and we intent to take care of them for life.

When searching for a new good home we thought it'd be better of she'd go to people who have all the attention for her and do not own any more dogs. We are aware some members of the Alaskan Malamute Club Belgium would have loved to take her in, but that just wouldn't solve her problem living in a pack. Besides that one can clearly see she really is a dog that enjoys being around people rather than other dogs. She's adorable, very obedient, can walk loose and is great with children. After all, she's the dog everyone steps up to when they're all on the stake-out

Luckily we found the perfect new owners for her: 'Kies' (Wim) and Mirjam, a couple without children who work from their home. They bsically looked for a dog combining a hugging bear and an active sportler. Tataaaa..... Chilaili! We are convinced she'll be given all the attention she needs and, equally important, gets a lot of exercise as well. Running is very important with her condition, the only thing she shouldn't do anymore is pulling.

An extra advantage: Kies and Mirjam live only 5 kilometers from the beach, where they go several times a week. You see, Chilaili is going to get the time of her life!!

We brought her to her new owners yesterday and were both sad and convinced we did the right thing for her. Together with Kies and Mirjam we took a walk through the storm at the nearby beach and it was fantastic to see Chilaili overcome with joy. Running and jumping, in and out of the sea, back and forth. And she felt so much more free and relaxed! She happily ran back every minute or so to give us a lick or hug, something she didn't do anymore at home with us. The same afternoon we already received pictures of her by e-mail and she even seems to get along with their cat. Kies and Mirjam even started a website about Chilaili!

We will definitely keep in touch with her new bosses and should it be by any chance she can't stay there, we will get her back. We simply keep feeling responsible for her well-being.