“Thanks for having been the best dog we ever could have asked for.” 11.06.05 – 26.02.18
The sad announcement told the story together with a photo of the Netanyahu family dog, Kaia, in happier times at the Prime Minister’s official residence in Jerusalem, posted on the Instagram account of Avner Netanyahu.
But just a little while later, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu followed with a post of his own on Facebook.
“Our beloved Kaia is gone.
“Two months ago, Kaia collapsed after a disc herniation broke her neck and paralyzed her. She underwent two serious surgeries to try to get her back on her feet. After hydrotherapy treatments and an unsuccessful oxygen cell treatment, we all – my wife Sara, Yair and Avner and I – came to say goodbye to her.
“How much happiness and light she has brought to our lives. We learned from Kaia about the soul and consciousness of animals. Kaia was a great soul that entered the heart of everyone who met her. We were happy to give her a home and family and thus extend her life for years, and she gave us back a lot of joy.
“On this occasion we call upon all who can adopt older adult animals: Give them a home and a life, and you will get so much warmth and love from them in return.
“Kaia was a seventh-generation purebred Alaskan dog. She was born on Kibbutz Givat Brenner, won many beauty contests and showed exceptional intelligence and sensitivity. We hoped so much that she would return to us, and would win the chance at least once in her life to experience snow in Jerusalem.
“Kaia was part of our family. How great is our grief at her leaving us. We will always remember her,” the prime minister concluded.
At the end of the day, the love for a pet is strong and abiding, and the loss of a pet evokes grief just as deep.