dc diary

In remembrance of Kayla

By Jack Evans

MAY 2008

It was a sad day for the Evans family on Friday, April 4. I made the decision to put Kayla, our beloved golden retriever, to sleep.

After my wife Noel and I were married in September 1993, we decided to buy a puppy. It took awhile, but in March 1995, we drove out to a farm in Maryland that Noel read had puppies for sale. It was a Sunday night and I remember almost turning back because we couldn’t find the place. But we did, and fortunately they had four puppies left. We played with all of them, but one puppy in particular grunted when we rubbed her tummy. She had so much character, so we decided to bring her home. Since she was so young, we had to wait several weeks before we could take her from the litter. In the meantime, we bought all the puppy stuff anxiously awaiting her arrival to her new home.

Kayla was born on February 26, 1995 and arrived at our Georgetown house several weeks later in April 1995. I remember putting her in my backpack and taking her around, a moment that was captured on film by Gary Tischler of this paper.
 
Kayla became a part of our family. She went everywhere with us and learned to greet us in the upstairs window of our house on 32nd Street, NW when we came home. Like most dogs, she had a few issues, so we sent her to the Old Town School for Dogs where she did well. We also learned she was photogenic – she appeared in all of our Christmas cards – front and center. She ran with me daily on my many jogs on the C&O Canal, taking time out to swim and chase sticks.

When the three children were born, her life changed with the new additions. But she adapted well, and the three kids in the stroller with Kayla, became a fixture on the streets of Georgetown. As the years progressed, we had many adventures together. She loved going to Dewey beach and playing in the ocean, swimming out after tennis balls. Another favorite place was the creek behind Montrose Park.

It’s hard to remember when she started to slow down. But it happened quickly. Soon, it was hard to maneuver stairs as the arthritis got worse and the old age stepped in.

Last year, I received an email from a family that had purchased one of Kayla’s sisters, Sophie. They reached out to me because Sophie was having some of the same problems as Kayla. After weeks of coordinating, we reunited them before their 13th birthday. They sniffed and pounced and did what dogs do. Shortly after the reuniting, we celebrated Kayla’s birthday with cake and lots of treats.

Then last Friday came. Kayla was struggling and I took her to Friendship Hospital. Our doctor, Dr. Lorna Marke gave me all the options, but it was clear where we were (should you have to put one of your dogs to sleep, I highly recommend Friendship Hospital and Dr. Marke). After a great dinner of hamburgers and dog biscuits, my kids and I said goodbye to Kayla. I shall miss her greatly.

Jack Evans is the DC Councilman for Ward Two. His column appears in each edition of this newspaper.