Popcorn Park Shelter Says Farewell To Nyla The Lion

This is a Letter to the Editor from John Bergmann, longtime director of the Associated Humane Animal Societies Popcorn Park Animal Shelter. Park employees are mourning the loss of Nyla, a much-loved lion.

On Sunday, Aug. 19, we lost a very dear and close friend, Nyla. Nyla was 22 years old and for the last couple of months had slowed down, as age was finally catching up with her. Where she once raced over to say hello or jumped off her den bench in the morning for a scratch on the head, she still got up when she saw us, but she would rather walk over than run. But she still always had a smile on her face.

Throughout the years she was always the first one up when she heard us coming, rubbing her head on the fence to try and get closer to you, the moans and grunts she would make to say hello or good morning. We will miss them all.

Every day at 4 p.m. she would wait with her eyes fixed on the gate, which was about 50 yards away and through some trees too, where the wheelbarrel full of dinner came through. She would then wait patiently outside her closed den door while her dinner was put down inside. Every once in a while, she would nudge the door with her giant paw just to let you know that you were taking a little too long.

She loved playing with her boxes, her pumpkins, her watermelons and even her Easter eggs. She was just that kind of friend who could always put a smile on your face. As Nyla grew older she was put on medication to help keep her more comfortable, but in the last few weeks we could tell it wasn’t helping as much as it did before.

We all talked it over with our veterinarians, who had been monitoring her closely for a while now, and we had to make that tough, tough decision. We knew we had to let her go with dignity and we were all there with her. We will miss her dearly. A little piece of our heart goes with every animal here that passes, but sometimes there’s that one that seems to take a bigger piece, and yes, that was Nyla.

Photos: Courtesy of John Bergmann