Remembering Ellie: A Very Special Companion

Over the years, I have often heard people say that when someone passes away, the world is a better place because they were in it. While that expression is usually used when talking about people, I found myself thinking about it a great deal over Memorial Day Weekend when Wendy and I had to say goodbye to our dog, Eleanor.

For the past sixteen years, Ellie has been part of our lives every single day. She was the first thing we saw in the morning and often the last thing we saw before going to bed at night. She wasn’t just a pet. She was family. In many ways, she helped make our little family what it is.

She was always there, no matter what kind of day you were having. If you had a great day, she was happy to celebrate it with you. If you were dealing with challenges, she seemed to know exactly when you needed a little extra love. She didn’t have to do much—just being by your side was always enough to make things better.

Many of our campers, volunteers, and staff knew Ellie. She loved being around people, especially our campers. Over the years, she met countless campers, including many who were facing some of the toughest challenges imaginable. It never mattered to her whether someone was in a wheelchair, using crutches, having a difficult day, or simply looking for a friend. Ellie treated everyone exactly the same. All you had to do was give her a little bit of love, and she would give so much more back in return.

When I think about Camp Good Days and what we strive to create, I often think about acceptance, kindness, and making people feel valued. Ellie seemed to understand those things naturally. She never judged anyone. She simply wanted to be part of their lives, even if only for a few moments.

She was an Irish Terrier who loved the water, loved going for walks, and loved being wherever people were. Whether she was accompanying me to a football practice, walking around camp, sitting outside watching the world go by, or greeting campers, she was always happy to be involved.

The past year was not easy for her. She gradually lost her hearing and began having vision problems. Arthritis made it more difficult for her to walk, run, and move around the way she once did. Yet despite all of those challenges, she never seemed to lose her spirit. Whenever she was around people, especially the children at Camp Good Days, she still wanted to be part of the action.

On Friday, we knew it was time. She wasn’t eating much, wasn’t drinking as much, and her quality of life had changed significantly. Making that decision was one of the hardest things Wendy and I have had to do.

Since then, I have found myself constantly thinking about Ellie and all the memories she gave us over the last sixteen years. No matter how difficult a day may have been, she always seemed genuinely happy to see me. She would come over, offer a little affection, and somehow make everything seem a little better.

As we prepare for another summer at Camp Good Days, making final adjustments to the facility, planning programs, and getting ready to welcome campers back, I know things will feel different. Ellie has been part of every stage of the last sixteen years of our lives. Her absence leaves a hole in our hearts that cannot easily be filled.

The truth is, I loved that dog.

I am going to miss seeing her around camp. I am going to miss seeing her in the yard. I am going to miss her excitement when people arrived, and her ability to make complete strangers feel like old friends.

But I am also incredibly grateful for the sixteen years we had together.

The memories will stay with me forever. The joy she brought to Wendy and me, to our family, and to so many people at Camp Good Days will never be forgotten.

When people say that the world is a better place because someone was in it, I can honestly say that Eleanor was a real-life example of that. Wendy’s and my world will never be quite the same without her, but we will always have the memories she gave us, and those memories will stay with us forever.

Thank you, Ellie, for sixteen wonderful years.