Remembering Lilah: 13 Years of Adventure and Love

Today is National Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day. It is a day to honor the memory of our beloved pets who are no longer with us.

Fresh out of college 13 years ago, Shree arrived at East Bay SPCA’s Dublin Adoption Center. Perusing the kennels in the adoption center, Shree arrived at the last kennel, where 6-month-old Lilah was housed, and immediately fell in love. Sweet, loving, and adventurous is how Shree described Lilah. Upon bringing sweet Lilah home, her puppy energy really took the front seat. She had boundless energy and was sharp as a tack.

Shree recalls one funny story told by her pet sitter, where Lilah cleaned a plate of food with lightning speed and actually returned the plate to the drawer afterward. Her smarts were so impressive, in fact, that Shree wondered if Lilah’s true destiny was to be a search-and-rescue or police dog.

However, she says that this would have caused Lilah to miss her long sunbathing sessions that had become an essential part of her day.

Through life’s many stages and changes, Lilah was by Shree’s side. Though Shree lived in the East Bay at the time of adopting her, Lilah moved with Shree to Davis to accompany her in law school and eventually to San Francisco. Lilah got to experience so much that San Francisco has to offer.

Together, the pair trekked to the Golden Gate Bridge, Bay Bridge, and the Transamerica Building. They spent numerous days on the sandy San Francisco beaches and explored Pier 39.

After growing restless with California living, Shree and Lilah headed east! Together, they experienced showers of cherry blossom petals at sunrise, explored the Washington Monument, and traversed through Shenandoah Park.

The new environment introduced new climates, including humidity and snow. Lilah took on this new experience with the childlike wonder of a young puppy, taking it all in. While Lilah furiously sniffed the ground on their walks, Shree would ask her if she “was collecting good data points today.”

Last year, the pair made the decision to move back to California. They decided to make a trip out of it, taking full advantage of their 10-day road trip, with stops in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Colorado, and Utah. Lilah absolutely loved car rides, making her the perfect co-pilot. Shree and Lilah had been living in Los Angeles for eight months when Lilah’s health took a turn. It was time to say goodbye.

Like most of Lilah and Shree’s life together, Lilah’s last day was full of adventure. They explored Griffith Park, the Hollywood Sign, and took in the sights of the Los Angeles Valley. Lilah enjoyed a feast of Hawaiian rolls, South Indian food, steak, and a blueberry muffin to end on a sweet note.

Shree says that Lilah gave her the strength to step outside of her comfort zone and was a constant presence through so many difficult situations. She says, “Although my heart is broken and the grief is suffocating, I find comfort believing that she’s resting peacefully with lots of squirrels to chase, belly rubs to receive, and bathmats to lie on.”

Thank you, Shree, for sharing Lilah’s life and memory with us. 🤍🌈