Remembering Kayla, Inspiration and Savior
2002 – 2016, RIP
Kayla, the primary inspiration for DogTrekker.com, has now left us. Here is her story as told by co-founders Roxanne and Dave Kendrick.
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Kayla at the top of Seven Falls, Santa Barbara
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Kayla, Director of Barketing
DogTrekker.com wouldn’t be here without Kayla, our “research Lab,” director of barketing and chief operating dog since the website was launched in 2011. But yes, our primary inspiration has left us and is now at the Rainbow Bridge with all the four-legged buddies who left before her.
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Kayla and Lola at Lake Lagunitas, Marin County
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Kayla is no longer in pain and can once again run like a Lab, swim like a Lab and, most importantly, eat like a Lab. The past few years have been a challenge for her and our family, yet she always had a smile on her face, a wag in her tail and showed undeniable excitement when asked if she wanted to take a ride or go on a trip.
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Mohamed helps Kayla to her room
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Those who had the chance to meet our amazing girl knew how special she was. She had a way of engaging everyone, whether in our local neighborhood, on the trails, at adoptathons and especially at hotels. Front desk greeters knew her by name and laughed as she went behind the counter looking for her regular treats. Bellhops across the state greeted her by name. When her hips started to give out, they used luggage carts to get her to our room. Concierges turned to DogTrekker.com and its “Kayla’s Korner” feature to assist other DogTrekkers with their activities. More...
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Kayla's favorite pastime
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Kayla and Roxanne take to the water
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Kayla's Life-saving ContributionTwo years after the launch of DogTrekker.com, Kayla got very sick, or at least we thought she did. Still a healthy, nine-year-old Lab with boundless energy, she became quiet, lethargic and not really that interested in food. She followed Roxanne around the house, whining constantly. Tests were done to rule out many potential issues, including cancer. The results were negative but still troubling since her symptoms were not getting better.
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Roxanne, Dana and Kayla vow
to fight the cancer
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A few nights prior to heading off to UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital in Davis for yet another round of evaluations, we were in bed when, at around 4 a.m., Kayla jumped up, put her head near Roxanne’s left arm and began pawing her breast area. Roxanne, who’d had a mammogram just a few months before, decided to check the breast closest to Kayla. She found a small lump.
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Roxanne, Kayla and Jeff water therapy
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Within a couple of days after a biopsy, we were given the news that Roxanne had been diagnosed with one of the most aggressive forms of breast cancer, triple negative. It's called triple negative because it cannot be treated in the same ways as most other forms of breast cancer.
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Dave, Roxanne and Kayla on the Bay
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After an operation, chemotherapy and radiation, Roxanne’s prognosis was positive. While this form of cancer has one of the highest chances of reoccurrence in the first five years, it is among the lowest after timely treatment. Roxanne has been cancer-free for close to five years. More...
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