Region 9
Galyith
Owner/Handler: Richard Felice Sr.
Galyith was a very loyal dog! He was highly misunderstood. Most that knew him at pulls thought he was an aggressive dog. The truth is that if you never got to know Galyith outside of pulling, you really did not understand him. He was a very social dog. Very protective of things smaller then himself. Richards friends who did get to know him came to realize he was a, and I quote, "a crazy hound". His main hang up was that he needed to meet all dogs and people. At pulls he was kept from this and was very vocal about it. Once he met everyone and there dogs, Galyith minded his own business. He would just go kick around his bowling balls and hang out in the yard as all of the family friends and Richard would practice pulling. He was a very free spirit. Never really being on a leash except at pulls. He had the craziest growl when he played with anything. He sounded like a bear. Galyith never left Richard's side. Galyith always did what Richard asked of him. This was his way with pulling. He did not mind it. But when he pulled, Galyith pulled for Richard at his own pace. It did not matter how heavy the cart, he always looked like he was taking a walk in the park. He rarely won on time. His thing was to outright beat his competition on weight. He preferred being driven when he was pulled. Not many drove the way he did. Richard loved Galyith and it really has affected Richards want to go to pulls. Galyith was a very good dog. Richard and friends miss him.
Galyith was a pit chow mix that Richard called a "pow". However, most pullers called him a "CHIT".
The 2014/2015 season ended Galyith's 9th year of pulling with the IWPA. Galyith was born sometime mid 2005 and on September 15th, 2015 he was laid to rest after Richard and Mary found out Galyith had cancer. Galyith's personal best was 3,535 pounds on wheels and 1,790 pounds on snow. In his 9 years of pulling with IWPA Region 9, he earned 16 regional medals. Starting with seasons 2006-2007 and 2007-2008 he earned silver on wheels and gold on snow. In the seasons of 2008-2009, 2010-2011 and 2012-2013 he earned gold on both wheels and snow. For the 2009-2010 season he earned gold on wheels and silver on snow. At the end of season 2011 -2012 and 2014 -2015 he earned gold on wheels and bronze on snow (the 2014-2015 bronze on snow was a tie).
Galyith attended 5 International Championships. In 4 of them, he placed in the top 3 in snow or wheels. In the 2012-2013 Championships in Canada Galyith received double gold medals. His other Championship medals are for the 2006-2007 season where he earned bronze on snow. In 2008-2009 he earned silver on wheels and gold on snow. In 2010-2011 he earned silver on snow.
The Board of Directors during their annual meeting in June 2016, considered Galyith for induction into the International Hall of Fame. The board voted unanimously for this induction. Galyith has earned International HOF status.
