RIP: Yukonjak's Tala
Oct 31, 1999 - April 8, 2004

The 'Tala-Gator' was my first Alaskan Malamute. She died at four and a half years of age, of bone cancer. She had a particularly nasty, fast, type. Most of her life she was ill with diagnosed both discoid and SLE lupus. I blame over-innoculations, in part. She required more excersise than all of my current dogs, combined. She was one heavy-duty athelete. Her runs were an average of 10 - 12 miles every second day. She attended agility or obedience classes (both in the Summer) almost all of her life. A poor, poor sport, she believed in 'elliminating' the competion, and thus, was never competed against anything. I just enjoyed the hundrends of miles we logged on roads and trails. Fully road trained, she would even race cars! Tala was about 31" at the shoulder and 135 pounds. We had real issues keeping weight on her over the lupus, and she could loose a lot of weight, fast, if we weren't careful. While she was a beautiful dog, she is also one of the things that have contributed to my knowledge, and pursuit, of a variety of health tests and information for Alaskan Malamutes. Her breeder gave me the best support you could ask for, when it became apperant she just 'wasn't right' and for that I am greatful. She was the dog I'd wanted 'all' my life. And her memory, lives on!