Memoriam

By Joyce Mackay

Bayla was our 1st Entlebucher. We researched & read anything we could get our hands on about the breed, but being rare we just weren’t sure about getting one. I flew to Utah that year for the Entlebucher breed Specialty. There I met the Eagleheart girls: Bliss & Shaman. While spending time with them, I fell in love with Bliss & everything about her… I really wanted a puppy from her. At the time we had all girl dogs so my initial thought was to get a boy. I even picked out a boy name, filled out the paperwork & was honest about what I wanted in my Eagleheart puppy. When the “E Litter” was born, I thought they were all adorable… except one. Bayla ended up being that one I swore I did not want (from pictures)! Thankfully I put my trust & faith in Gina & Kathy to choose my best match. Being across the country unable to visit, I was not qualified or competent to choose a puppy just from their pictures.

Bayla was everything I could ever ask for- she was my doggie soulmate! When she died I felt like she took a piece of my heart with her… I know she will always be the very best parts of me. Bayla inspired me to become a better dog trainer & a better person. She taught me so much about life & love! She had an intensity & zest for life that was amazing! We achieved many goals together, in fact she taught me to dream bigger & see greater possibilities. In her lifetime, Bayla earned 44 titles in various dog sports; 3 NADAC Versatility Awards, 1 NADAC Lifetime Achievement Award & was ranked the #1 Swiss Cattle Dog in 3 different classes 3 yrs in a row plus she was awarded the top scoring Entlebucher at the 2009 AKC Invitationals in Long Beach, CA. The biggest surprise to me was how enjoyable it was for the two of us to become a therapy dog team. She gave me the gift to understand that she (& all of us) can really affect others. Kid’s would light up while interacting with Bayla; they’d gain skills & confidence reading to her; people of all ages enjoyed the tricks she’d entertain them with; it was magical how Bayla could make people feel & how she’d put smiles on their faces.

Bayla passed over the Rainbow Bridge April of 2010. I still think about her & miss her every day. She had an incredible spirit. She was loyal, loving, courageous, intense & gave her all in everything she did! Bayla made me laugh, inspired me, challenged me, loved me… & changed me! I refer to her as my heart dog… as she will always have my heart!