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December 23, 2005
Red Alert
by Soren Wuerth

OBITUARY:  Larla Wuerth

     Having lived a long life at 13 years of age, Larla (also called “Lar,” or “the Cub”) was euthanized Dec. 17 by an intravenous injection of purple fluid.

     Larla (Hindi for “soul of my heart” [used as a term of endearment, like “darling”]) was known and adored throughout the state. A wolf-hybrid, her calm inquisitiveness, low sweeping tail, and soft brown eyes gave many pause.

     Larla participated in more protests than any animal in the history of Alaska.

     Her howling was heard on state radio stations, she was a regular subject of television cameos, and her resume includes a thick archive of newspaper photographs.

     Although she demonstrated in numerous campaigns, she was naturally sympathetic to the cause of stopping aerial wolf hunting. Testimony to her activism in this arena, Larla, wearing a yellow bullet-proof vest, was featured on the front-page of the Anchorage Daily News.

     Larla was a true non-violent crusader. While she may have bullied younger male whelps at times, she bit no human (with the one exception of Kevin Tritt, who deserved it). Larla impressed hoards of tourists with her gray coat and good looks. She attracted crowds and posed unselfconsciously for photos.

     Larla—of Juneau, of Cordova, of Unalaska, of the hundreds of pathways throughout the greater Anchorage Borough, of Girdwood, of Sitka, and of Chevak—Larla of Alaska, rested her head on the stainless steel operating table of Hillside Pet Clinic on a gray Saturday.

     Like the yin and yang, one of her ears was black and the other was white. Her eyes, calm brown and reflected red and moss green at times, were, at death, purple.

     Surviving Larla’s passing are her immediate companions Soren and Melissa; grandparents Myrna and Dieter; Uncle Jay, close Longview companion Susan Wuerth, the Nordhoff-Wilson and Mole-Brown families; Carl Wassilie and the great Gashuk; Darby and Larla’s sis Kiska; brother Raven; her fellow spirit of the back nine Eric Johnson; numerous companions lost but not forgotten, and all the wolves walking on four legs and on two.

     In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Alaska Action Center, P.O. Box 616, Girdwood, AK 99587.

     A memorial service will be held the morning of Dec. 31 at Bird Point where Larla’s ashes will join river, sea, mountain and sky.































Soren Wuerth is perhaps Alaska's best known community activist. He resides in an undisclosed location in rural Alaska and can be reached at soren@insurgent49.com.
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in-sur-gent (in sur'jent), n. 1. a member of a group which revolts against the policies of its leadership.