The animals of Sumaya

When we opened Villa Sumaya, my children were small, and animals were already woven into our family life. Naturally, they became part of the retreat center too as companions, guardians, and unofficial hosts with excellent people skills and absolutely no respect for reservation policies.

Our first guardians: Sula and Bambu

Sula and Bambu were our first dogs and the glorious guardians of our lakeshore paradise. Sula was a beautiful German Shepherd, and Bambu was her devoted pup. From 2000 to 2007, they watched over us as we cultivated the land and nurtured the dream that would become Villa Sumaya. Noble and steadfast, they established a family tradition that continues today: protect the property, love the people, and keep a close eye on anything emerging from the kitchen.

Two puppies by the road: Lhasa and Chango

After Sula and Bambu passed away, we were returning from the city when we spotted two puppies beside the road. Unable to choose between them, we made the only reasonable decision and brought both home. Lhasa and Chango became beloved companions and guardians of Sumaya, confirming that our approach to animal adoption has always been guided more by the heart than by the head.

Lhasa, the more delicate of the two, lived with us for only a few years. Chango enjoyed a long and full life, seeing my children through elementary school and into middle school. He would often dive into the lake and swim determinedly after their departing school boat, apparently convinced that his supervisory duties extended to the classroom. We were heartbroken when he died. Noisy, exuberant, and intensely interested in anything edible, he was a loyal chap and a very good dog.

Lila Nova, Sumaya’s golden retriever

When Chango was an elder, we welcomed another golden retriever pup, Lila Nova. She quickly became Sumaya’s mascot and an overnight celebrity. Some dogs take time to make an impression. Lila simply arrives, rolls over, and considers the introduction complete.

Lila is also an avid swimmer. She often kayaks and paddleboards alongside guests and family members, treating every outing on the lake as a social occasion. She has another unusual talent: diving to the bottom of the lake, retrieving large rocks, and bringing them back to shore as if they were precious objects in urgent need of salvage. This devotion to geological treasures has worn down her teeth a little. Still, she remains convinced that every rock she finds is important and that someone should be grateful she rescued it.

Zumba, a village German Shepherd

Then came Zumba, a large German Shepherd from the village and one of Bambu’s offspring. When we found him in a small enclosure, he seemed unhappy and had little room to exercise. We bought him that same day for $100 and brought him home. With space to roam, he gradually blossomed into a calm, beautiful companion.

I still remember the last time I looked into his eyes before he died. There was such tenderness and connection in that gaze, a peacefulness I understood as gratitude. Some conversations need no words.

Rescued from the streets: Chocolate and Zorro

Rousseau Chocolate arrived one New Year’s Day, brought home by my daughter after she found him living on the street. A chocolate English Labrador, he had reportedly been used for breeding and lost his home after being neutered. With us, he found a place to belong. I loved that dog. Truly, I have loved them all.

When our dear Rousseau passed away shortly before the pandemic, it felt like the right time to welcome another street dog. We found Cachorro (Spanish for “puppy”), who had been given his rather practical name by a former owner. After that owner left, Cachorro spent three years fending for himself on the streets. We felt he had more than earned a comfortable retirement at Sumaya.

We renamed him Zorro, which sounded enough like Cachorro that he accepted the arrangement without protest. He became our night guardian’s constant companion, escorting him to and from the pueblo for his shift. Zorro took his responsibilities seriously, while making room for the essential pleasures of retirement: regular meals, comfortable surroundings, and plenty of admiration.

Lila today

Lila is now 10. She has faced difficult health challenges, including autoimmune conditions that have affected her coat and eyes, and caring for her has been a long journey.

One of the most remarkable developments has been the return of her coat. During a difficult period, when I feared she might lose all her hair, I searched Indian news articles for accounts of traditional remedies used for street dogs with mange. We tried neem and tulsi, along with baths using neem soap. Eventually, her coat grew back full, thick, and beautiful. Seeing that transformation felt miraculous, and we are deeply grateful for the extra time together.

She remains one of Sumaya’s most enthusiastic receivers of affection, rolling onto her back to request a belly rub and smiling with all her teeth. Subtlety has never been her style. If you have a free hand, Lila has a job for it.

Mia, our black Labrador

Mia, our youngest, is a black Labrador who joined us during the pandemic. She comes from a line of show dogs in Xela and carries herself with quiet elegance. Intelligent, calm, and beautiful, she generally finds food more fascinating than introductions. Her priorities are clear. Approach her gently, and she may decide to let you into her world.

Shiva Ray, the retreat cat who attended everything

One of our most remarkable companions was our much-loved cat, Shiva, who died in 2025 at the age of 20. She seemed to attend every event at Sumaya, appearing on a studio cushion, beside someone receiving a treatment, or comfortably settled on a guest’s bed.

Many people felt she offered her own kind of healing. We received numerous notes, long confessionals, and even a blog post titled “Shiva’s Tale.” With her Siamese ancestry, she always had plenty to say and saw no reason to observe silence simply because everyone else was on retreat.

Shiva was given to us as a kitten and was initially thought to be male, which is how she received her name. When she later gave birth to kittens, we realized that Shiva was, in fact, female. By then, the name had become inseparable from her, so we renamed her Shiva Ray.

She was known for her iconic black-cat silhouette and fiercely independent spirit. For guests less enchanted by her visits, we supplied rooms with water spray bottles labeled “Go Away Cat Spray.” She inspired both devotion and a modest system of boundary enforcement. Her unmistakable voice and presence made her a character people rarely forgot.

Her daughter, Indigo Violet, passed away at age 20 in October 2026. In her crone years, she enjoyed the affection of guests who felt a special connection. Indy carried on the family tradition of being loved without having to make much effort.

Sharing the hillside with wildlife

Beyond our household companions, we share this hillside with a whole community of creatures. Over the years, there have been rabbits and a baby owl, along with a fox who lives nearby. Owls call in the evenings, their voices sounding like messages from beyond. Doves and vultures move through the sky, while lizards flash iridescent blue and green among the stones and leaves. Bees from our hillside hives visit the flowers, and countless insects carry on their busy lives alongside ours.

Sharing a retreat center with so much life requires daily care. With gardens, kitchens, and inviting shelter at the foot of the hillside, we understand the appeal. Our team works thoughtfully to keep guest spaces comfortable and gently encourages creatures to move along when needed. Some accept the guidance more readily than others.

Still, they belong to this landscape, just as we do.

Woven into the memory of this place

The animals of Sumaya have helped raise our children, accompanied our work, welcomed our guests, and brought comfort simply by being themselves. Their lives are woven into the memory of this place: in the gardens, along the pathways, and occasionally on the pillow you thought was yours.

Praise to all life and gratitude for the creatures who share it with us.