Tonight was a really hard night as we said goodbye to our loving, stubborn, and sassy Cammie girl. This girl saw me through many ups and downs over the last 14 years and 2 months. I think back to her puppy years and the feisty energy she had, often body slamming right in to Hailey! She was the most agile dog I’ve ever had and could catch any ball you threw in her direction. She had a radar for racquet balls – the blue ones were her favorite. She would be able to tell you there was one in the most obscure place – and she was always right!  Cammie Cam was our scared girl, often nervous around loud situations or uncertainty, and sure to put something in her mouth to let her know she was feeling a bit nervous or insecure. She was really active in her younger years but certainly slowed down over the last couple. She loved to lay in the sun and in front of the fire. Our black girl loved the heat. And she was the most amazing swimmer. She absolutely loved going for a play date at the pond and fetching sticks. She would regularly leap off the edge of the pond and into the water to fetch a stick – she could catch some serious air. Since we lost Hailey just over two years ago, Cameron and Lily have  stuck close together. Her hearing and eyesight remained amazing despite her age.  Not so much in recent years, but back in her younger days we would go on countless car rides to the pet store, treats at Starbucks, vacations and long weekends to Michigan, Kentucky, West Virginia, mom and dad’s, etc. We celebrated every birthday together on December 12, complete with party hats, cake, and toys. She always wanted to be around people and as long as she was able would follow you anywhere just to lay down next to you, or lay on the couch! She loved Finn and he loved taking care of her especially over the last few months. He would regularly take her water, help us feed her breakfast and dinner while she laid on her bed, and suggest that the doggies wanted a “special treat” from time to time too.

In October Cam fell down the brown stairs and wasn’t able to walk very well. After taking her to the vet the next morning we learned she likely tore her ACL in her left back knee. She recovered from that remarkably well, but from that point on wasn’t really able to get up and go outside without some help from us. So we’ve been taking her in and out using a towel placed under her belly, in front of her back legs, to give her support. She continued to eat well – she is a lab after all, and her appetite never wavered! As she has gotten older her skin became so thin, that as she wagged her tail so frequently (and hard) she developed sores or open wounds on her tail that would bleed. So we have had her tail mostly wrapped since November. We took her to the vet on Saturday and learned that she would need to have her tail amputated as it was dying from the tip downward and had a pretty large wound. The last couple days she would go from walking mostly ok to not being able to really stand up for much time at all, and even while standing her back legs wavered quite a bit. She became pretty unsteady on her way in and out to go potty and though it wasn’t easy for her she powered through it.  

So we celebrate more than 14 years of love, stubbornness, and sass that she gave us. All of the places we’ve gone, the laughs we’ve had, the tears she’s helped comfort, and the sweet part of our family that she was! We are blessed that she was our birdy girl.

We love you Cammie Cam. xoxox o