Lily Bird McClintock (06/30/2009 – 04/03/2021)

Lily was our first and only Foster Fail who lived the first half of her life outdoors and covered in fleas, and the second half of her life covered in down feathers and love.

Her first day at our house was done all wrong. Instead of a casual meet and greet outside with Utley, she bolted into the house only to be happily met by Ut, who helped her unpack her toys and invited her to stay for a while. On the first day they were left alone together, Lily escaped from her crate, and the two met Steve at the bottom of the basement steps when he came home for lunch. The two have spent every night together since … except a two-night overnight at the emergency vet for accidentally (garbage smining!) grape consumption back in 2016.

Lily enjoyed bird classes, hunting trips in multiple states, fishing trips, camping adventures, hotel stays at Five-Star dog-friendly hotels on the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland, licked the grill tongs almost nightly, and provided the Brittany Oversight for the redesign of the NBRAN website. She became the leader of our pack and dictated how the day would run – she told us when to serve breakfast, dinner, and hourly snacks (carrots). She greeted us with enthusiasm every time we were separated – which could mean we went and got the mail and didn’t take or, or if we were gone for a few days on vacation without her.

Lily came to us with a cheerleading squad of supporters (Chris Eddinger, Lynda Martin, & Lisa Giddings) who took the time to vet our home and ensure Lily would be a good match for us and that we would be a good match for Lily, and that made for a beautiful five full years of companionship.

At the age of 11 years and 10 months, Lily leaves behind a few favorite things – her first love, a pile of down blankets in our bedroom; Steve, her second love; Utley, her constant companion; and me, the lady to ensured her old lady bladder was tended to each morning, promptly at 5:45 am . . . which worked out well for both of us.

Just two days before she crossed the rainbow bridge, she smined her last smine – Steve’s homemade birthday cake, from the countertops.

Lily was diagnosed with Canine Larpar a few months ago – and looking back – she likely had it for about a year. Her breathing was very labored and we just knew it was time.

I am sure I will edit this a million times to share a million more stories.

Our house is much quieter, Utley is a lot more spoiled, and we miss her so much.