All of us, Nyka and Zulu will miss you

A neighbour introduced Priyantha to my family and my dogs. Priyantha was known as the Dog Trainer. We little realised that he would touch our lives forever because of his passion for animals. Handling big boned dogs like Rotweillers, German Shepherds and Ridgebacks was his passion.

He was only a call away when it came to anything to do with the pet. If he couldn’t make it on his bike he would give advice over the phone and presto it worked.

My experience with him can never be put into words… when it came to dogs he was the man in charge not the other way around… my Nyka and Zulu would know the day he was coming as they would hear me getting the stuff ready for the walk and bath later. From that time they would whine and be very restless till they heard his bike come in, then they would just go berserk and greet him as if they hadn’t seen him in a hundred years. That welcome would take over 15 minutes and once they settled he would start the ritual talks to them lovingly; the simple commands of sit, stand, lie down, come and stay with his powerful voice were the basics. Like my pets I too would wait for his arrival on the Monday of every week just to listen to all the interesting experiences he had had with the other dogs during the week over a cup of tea or a soft drink.

Priyantha who served the Air Force, would enter them into dog shows and work tire- lessly and make sure they got a place; he did all this for no material gain, but for pure love for the animal and always with a million dollar smile. He leaves behind a beautiful wife and two handsome boys who don’t realize their loss yet.

We miss you and we will never forget your gentle, caring ways towards our Nyka and Zulu who will miss you too. May God bless you and give you eternal rest. Judie de Sylva and

family