Cam Manzano was more than a family dog. He was a companion you could always count on regardless of the situation. Here's what I'll remember the most about Cam, my best friend of 12 years
By Gilberto Manzano
Last week, I was forced to say goodbye to Cam, a loving pit bull who quickly won over the hearts of the Manzano family. My mom, siblings and myself adored Cam the past 12 years. We didn’t expect to say goodbye this soon after learning that a tumor quickly spread through his body, making it difficult for him to breathe. It wasn’t an easy decision, but we didn’t want him to continue suffering. It was the least we could do for him after dedicating his life to making me and my family happy.
Cam hung tough and allowed my family to get together to say goodbye. Many tears were shed, but we’re so grateful to have spent 12 years with Cam. Many pet owners can relate to the type of grief we have felt the past week. It’s not easy, but all we can do is remember the memories. Even the bad ones, because our pets are often the ones who help during difficult times.
I got Cam when he was eight weeks old in 2012, and at the time, I didn’t know what I was getting myself into because I was a recent college graduate with little money. It required plenty of time to train Cam and the vet bills were expensive, but after the first year, the roles shifted. Cam was the one who was looking out for me and my family. He then went 10 years without having any major health issues, saving me plenty of money, as I bounced from job to job, hoping to make it as a sports journalist. I can’t express how resilient he was over the years.
When I took a chance on my career and left California to work for the Las Vegas Review-Journal in 2015, there were many lows and moments of loneliness being away from family and friends, but Cam always picked me up. We got through that phase together and the gamble paid off.
Three years later, I moved back to Southern California to cover the Chargers for the O.C. Register. My family was thrilled because they got to see Cam on a daily basis. They got close to Cam as I got to travel the country as an NFL reporter, eventually joining Sports Illustrated. I often felt guilty not being with Cam every day, but it made me happy knowing he was with family.
I could never repay Cam for what he did for me and my family the past 12 years. I truly hope we made him happy and he enjoyed his life. Goodbye, my sweet prince. You’ll never be forgotten.
Let us know about your pets. Send stories and pictures to gilberto@compasonthebeat.com
Here are more pictures of Cam ...
