Farewell Nayla

Robertsdale library staff, community mourns loss of resident canine

By John Underwood / john@gulfcoastmedia.com
Posted 11/20/18

ROBERTSDALE, Alabama — The Robertsdale Public Library is mourning the loss of one of its own.

Nayla, an 8-year-old Golden Retriever, full name Nayla May Nall, acquired as a rescue dog by Library …

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Farewell Nayla

Robertsdale library staff, community mourns loss of resident canine

Posted

ROBERTSDALE, Alabama — The Robertsdale Public Library is mourning the loss of one of its own.

Nayla, an 8-year-old Golden Retriever, full name Nayla May Nall, acquired as a rescue dog by Library Director Cynthia Nall six years ago after longtime library dog Maddie died at age 16, died Friday, Nov. 9 at Dykes Veterinary Clinic in Foley.

“She was my heart, but she belonged to everybody,” said Nall, who returned to the library on Wednesday following Nayla’s passing. Employees at the library made signs in memory of Nayla so patrons would know why she wasn’t there, Nall said.

“She came to work with me every day for six years, so it’s hard not having her here,” Nall said. “She loved everybody, young and old alike. She loved sitting at the front door and greeting people as they came in.”

Nayla became an everyday fixture at the library, participating in all activities, but was a particular favorite during the library’s Summer Reading Program with one of the biggest draws during the program being the “Reading With Nayla” story hour.

“I read about it online and decided to try it with Nayla and a few of her friends,” Nall said. “It was a huge hit, particularly with boys ages 9 to 12 whom we generally lose. For some reason they thought it was cool to read to Nayla.”

The library also hosted a birthday party for Nayla every year during the summer reading program.

“She loved kids and she was so good with them,” Nall said. “She would let them poke, prod and crawl all over her and never made a sound.”

But Nayla wasn’t just popular with children.

“We had an older couple who would come in regularly,” Nall said. “She would come in, gather all of her books, sit down on the couch and say, ‘I’m ready now,’ and Nayla would come, jump up on the couch and put her head in her lap while she read. She said they lived in an Senior Living Facility that didn’t allow pets and that would be her ‘fix.’”

During this year’s Summer Reading Program the library set up “Nayla’s Library,” Nall said, with books she thought Nayla would enjoy having read to her.

“We have a few books that have already been donated in memory of people who loved dogs,” Nall said, “and we certainly want that to continue along with anyone who wishes to donate books in Nayla’s memory.

If you would like to donate to the library in Nayla’s memory, you can call the library at 251-947-8960.