03/09/2026
With the deepest sadness, I share that our sweet, wonderful Montana passed away this past weekend.
He passed away suddenly and tragically in my arms, in the car, on our way to the mountains, to a place he loved.
Montana was never just a dog. He was never just a pet. He was our baby, the child we were never able to have, my love, my comfort, and my joy. He was not just the Camp dog. He was a friend, a source of peace, comfort, and a light to so many. My husband,Jeff, and I are heartbroken beyond words as we grieve the loss of our baby.
We are so grateful for the love so many of you gave Montana over the years, and for the love your campers gave him too. It is one thing to love a dog within your little family. It is another gift entirely to know that he was shared with so many others and that he brought joy wherever he went.
I ask for your grace and understanding as my husband and I walk through the deepest pain we have ever known.
If you loved Montana, we would be so grateful if you would share a story, a memory, or a photo of him with your little ones. Those memories are carrying us right now.
Please bear with me as I share a little more about him. I know this is long, but if you or your little one loved Montana, or if you have ever loved and lost a dog of your own, I hope you might take a moment to remember him with me - hear the story of how Montana came to be our baby and the beloved Camp Therapy Dog.
After a long and heartbreaking journey with IVF, I did not get to become the mother I had always dreamed of being. That loss stayed with me deeply. It is part of why I became a pediatric dentist. I love children, I love what I do, and I wanted so badly to be a mom.
In the middle of that pain, I felt an ache in my heart and decided I wanted a dog. Not just any dog but a Goldendoodle and a big one. The truth is, I was not even a dog person at the time - I was actually scared of dogs. But I prayed and asked God for a sign, that if a dog was meant for me, I would know.
Not long after, I met someone walking two Goldendoodles. He took a minute to talk with me, answer all my questions and allevaite my fears - he shared the true joy of what dog ownership was like. Soon after that, through a friend, I was connected with a woman named Janice whose dog was having puppies. She asked me so many questions about whether I was ready, whether I understood the responsibility, and whether I had a plan. And boy did I have a plan! In true type A dentist fashion, I had read books, talked to other owners, visited doggy daycares, interviewed breeders - I was ready. At the end of the call, she told me that if there were enough puppies in the litter, I could have one. When I asked her how much, she said, “Nothing.” She told me she had prayed that if there were extra puppies, God would send her someone who truly needed one. She said, “I know that’s you.”
That is how Montana came to be mine.
I flew to Washington, terrified, to pick him up. I remember wondering how I would know which puppy was mine. I sat down on the floor, and sweet Montana walked right into my lap.
And I knew.
This was my dog.
This was my baby.
When Montana came home on October 31, 2015, I had no idea what an extraordinary part of my life he would become. In those early days, I prayed that I would be a good mama to him, and that maybe one day, if I ever opened my own practice, he could come with me as a therapy dog and be a comfort to children.
Those prayers were answered in more ways than I ever could have imagined.
From the day I opened Camp Little Tooth, Montana was not just part of it. He was the heart of it. The Camp Dog.
He helped my little campers feel less afraid of the dentist. He helped some children feel less afraid of dogs. He comforted kids after hard visits and seemed to know exactly who needed him. More than once, he quietly laid his head in a parent’s lap, and that parent, with tears in their eyes, told me they had just lost their own dog and that they needed that moment more than I could know.
Outside of camp, Montana was an outdoor dog through and through. Jeff and I had so many glorious adventures with him. He went on countless trips to the mountains, thousands of walks, and so many dog park visits. He hiked all over these beautiful Colorado mountains with us, summited six 14ers, backpacked, camped, mountain biked, and loved to swim. He was woven into so many of the happiest moments of our life together. He was never just along for the adventure. He was part of the heart of it.
And somehow, Montana seemed to understand that camp was different. He knew when he was at Camp Little Tooth that he was on duty. He was gentle, calm, and so well behaved. He knew he was not supposed to jump, lick, or bark. He seemed to understand that he was there to help, to comfort, and to quietly let himself be loved. And oh, was he good at that. He was so very good at that.
His love and comfort reached beyond camp too. Montana was also part of the therapy dog program Paws to Read at the Lafayette Public Library, where he joined me in helping children feel comfortable reading out loud to a gentle, loving furry friend. It was just one more way he gave comfort, confidence, and joy to others.
He brought so much joy not only to our campers, but to our staff. A smiling furry face on a tough day, a gentle pat with his paw at the break room table begging for food. He was always there for a hug and a snuggle.
But most of all, he was there for me.
Owning a practice can be lonely. The days are long, and the responsibilities are heavy. So many nights I stayed at the office for hours after everyone had gone home, finishing charts, planning, and trying to carry all that comes with running a business. And I was never alone, because Montana was there. He was by my side every single day.
He never left me.
And now I am heartbroken knowing I will walk into camp, and for the first time, he will not be there with me.
I wanted to share this because I know how much Montana meant to so many of you, but also because I hope you know how much he meant to Jeff and me, and how much it meant to us to share him with all of you.
If in the coming days you see that I have lost a little light in my eyes, a little smile in my heart, and a little pep in my step, this is why. I have lost the little pup who walked beside me, step by step, through so much of life.
In the busyness of life, every moment can feel like something we need to fill. I hope you will take just a couple of minutes to fill yours with the joy that a sweet puppy can bring and watch this video. 5 minutes 46 seconds of love. ❤️
Pause. Breathe.
Life is more than the rush of the day. It is more than the next email waiting for an answer, the next errand that needs to be run, or the next task on the list. The truest parts of life are so often found in the little things, the quiet moments, and the love we share.
So I hope you will stop for a moment and let Montana continue to give joy, love, and comfort through this beautiful glimpse of the gift he was to all of us.
Thank you for loving Montana.
Thank you for loving our sweet, sweet Montana.
And Montana,thank you for loving me.
Thank you for letting me be your mama.
Thank you for being by my side.
Thank you for being one of the greatest joys of my life.
We will miss you and cherish you forever and always.
Love,
Your mama and daddy
