Our Maddy -- I call her our Maddy after Cathy Stanley at Camp Cocker allowed us to adopt her -- but we know that Maddy belonged to a lot of people. She was so loved by so many people. That alone is a tribute to Maddy's great spirit and loving heart. Our time with Maddy was a gift that we'll always treasure.

Maddy succumbed to a neurological disease that took her from all of us on March 12, 2011. The loss is overwhelming; we loved her so much. But Maddy was a fighter and would want us to be as strong as she was. Maddy had great enthusiasm for life. She especially loved to swim. Maddy also had great enthusiasm for her toys and loved to eat! She joined in every activity in our family and loved the attention and companionship, not only of ourselves but of her two furry siblings.

In memory of Maddy, and as a tribute to her joy in life, her courage, and her loving spirit, we are making a donation in Maddy's name to Camp Cocker of $2,500 and ask others who loved Maddy and support Camp Cocker to come forward with their own donations in Maddy's memory. And if you didn't know Maddy, there may have been another special dog in your life that you would like to make a donation in memory of. With matching donations, we hope the fund will reach $5,000 or more. The fund will be named "Maddy's Fund".

Cathy Stanley will use Maddy's Fund to meet emergency expenses when Cathy is faced with making immediate, sometimes life and death, decisions for other wonderful dogs that fall under her care. Then Camp Cocker will fundraise to top up Maddy's Fund, so that those emergency funds are always available on an ongoing basis. What a wonderful legacy this will be to Camp Cocker. And what a wonderful tribute to a very special little girl named Maddy.

Please open your hearts and join us in creating Maddy's Fund.

We love you, sweet Maddy. You will never be forgotten.

Elaine & Tom Kilbourn