Happy 15th Birthday Campy

 

Dear Campy, 
You have surpassed the life expectancy of the average dog and today we celebrate your 15 years of life. 

I still remember the day we came across your picture on Petfinder.com. Your long-legs, floppy ears and innocent golden face stole our heart and we knew we needed you in our life. You were only a year old and we were in no position to "own" a dog. I was in school becoming a RD, your dad was the general manager of the Trek Store, we were a few weeks away from getting married and we were living on a very tight budget. We had recently moved to Jacksonville, Florida - living in a small apartment on the 3rd floor.

But little did I know how much I needed you in my life. 

Since the day I brought you home, you have slept in our bed. You love to burry yourself under the covers and always make sure part of you is always touching me. You get excited for every new day, despite the routine being exactly the same as the day before. All you know is life with cats. 

The best part of my day is seeing your energy when I get out your leash for your walks. You love being outside. 

We've created so many amazing memories together. You've traveled a lot - from bike races and triathlons to visiting friends and family. You are the best travel companion as you never complain and always know how to calm us down in stressful situations. 

From stressful and exhausting moves and life changes to the loss of family members, you've helped us get through so many emotionally challenging times. And no matter the day, you shower us with unconditional love without using any words. Even on the worst day of life, your joyous celebration of 'another day of life' becomes a gentle reminder to express gratitude and to always focus on the positive. 

You love to destroy plush toys with squeakers. You always get your own Thanksgiving plate. 

You show your loyalty through protection but when you learn to trust a stranger, you become extremely kind and affectionate. 

Over the past few years, we've noticed the changes and signs that you are aging. You are much less golden. You are much more anxious. Your hearing is mostly gone and you sometimes get disoriented and confused. You can no longer jump like you used to so everytime you make it on the couch (after a few missed attempts), we celebrate your effort and say "you still got it!" You need help getting off the bed as you don't trust yourself jumping down. Your joints are stiff after sleeping and you sometimes struggle to lift your leg to pee. You prefer to stay downstairs as it takes a bit of work to go up the stairs. You can't hold your bladder as long as you used to but luckily you don't mind wearing a diaper (and you look so cute in it). You've been on seizure meds since 2013 and thankfully you haven't had one since.

You sleep a lot. With very few teeth left, your tongue often slips out of your mouth as you sleep so deeply. I love seeing how comfortable and happy you are snuggled in your bed, feeling warm in your fuzzy blanket or dog bed. 

But you continue to impress the vet at your senior check-ups. You still have energy for long walks and you don't hesitate when there's an opportunity to chase a bird or squirrel. You still get excited for car rides. And you get so excited when it's time to eat - jumping and barking in excitement. 

Although the aging process has been slow, there are constant reminders that you are getting older. But instead of worrying about how many years we have left with you, I celebrate every day by recognizing how much life you still have in you. 

Whatever life throws at us, you are always there. You remind us every single day to be happy and most of all, to always be grateful for another day. 

Today is a monumental day and every day forward is a blessing.

Happy 15th birthday Campy, my love.