Shiloh died surrounded by her loved ones in our family room in Juneau, Alaska, after a short convalescence, at the age of 11 years 8 months. In her last moments she took a sip of water, lifted her head towards us and looked us in the eye and wagged the tip of  her tail. She then laid back and seemed to be having one of her running dreams.  About 20 minutes later, she relaxed and spread out in her favorite sleeping position, and was gone.  

We believe in her last moments she was dreaming of running joyously through the woods and sand at full speed as she loved so much to do.

Shiloh wore her Assistance Harness with pride. As a working animal she had received certified training to help Virginia, a very frail 90-year-old woman (through the use of the harness) get out of chairs and maintain balance when negotiating stairs and working in the kitchen. This was very specific training requiring great discipline from the animal. Shiloh did this very well.  She retired from that role in 2015 when Virginia passed away.

Shiloh then lived with us for a time at our remote island homestead in Alaska. She once saved my husband from walking into a brown bear along one of our dark trails through the forest.  She spent her last few years in Juneau and her favorite place was Sandy Beach, Douglas, Alaska.

Shiloh's great grandfather was the International European Championship Showdog "Janipan - Hero of the Day" and also from championship European bloodlines through her mother Panda who was brought here from Czechoslovakia.

Shiloh, Juneau, Alaska, 2019

 

Shiloh, running at Sandy Beach, Douglas, Alaska