Puppy Takes Over Senior Dog's Tasks After She Passes Away: 'Her Job Now'

Senior Life and Trends Reporter

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A sweet pup went viral on TikTok after carrying on a tradition passed down by a senior dog after her recent death.

The viral clips show 6-year-old Camper fetching a newspaper from the front yard which is something Maggie, a 16-year-old Border Collie, had done since she was a puppy.

"Camper knows it's her job now," owner Brittany Guillou, 33, told Newsweek.

So far, the heartbreaking video has 1.4 million views and over 363,000 likes since it was shared on November 11.

Maggie and Camper — (L-R) Maggie, the border collie rescue, sitting next to Camper, who is a brown mixed-breed. Camper is determined to make sure Maggie's spirit lives on by continuing a tradition. Brittany Guillou/Brittany Guillou

Two weeks ago, Maggie passed away after a stroke, and the whole family, including Camper, was left devastated.

"When Camper realized Maggie wasn't at my parent's house recently, she was crying and wanted cuddles. It was a sad day," Guillou, who is from Los Angeles, said. "There are some activities that she doesn't want to do without Maggie but getting the paper is still her favorite thing.

"There is so much of Maggie in her because she watched her so much as a puppy, and I think she was proud to bring the paper all the way in this time. Eventually, we will need to get another pup so Camper can train them and continue Maggie's legacy," she said.

Guillou and her dog Camper can be seen smiling on the beach. The owner explained Maggie's death has been hard for Camper. Brittany Guillou/Brittany Guillou

Guillou, who works in costume design for TV and film, described the pair as a "duo."

In their younger years, Camper would watch Maggie, a rescue, fetch the morning paper for her owners. She was then rewarded with a treat.

"When Camper came along, she would watch Maggie get the paper then get a treat and decide she wanted to do it too," Guillou said.

"When they first started getting the paper together, Maggie would bring the paper to the top of the stairs, and Camper would snatch it from her and run inside to ensure that she also got a treat.

"It was so cute! But as Maggie got older she couldn't go down the stairs because of her hip, so their roles reversed—Camper would grab the paper and trade off at the top of the stairs with Maggie."

The tear-jerking video has amassed more than 960 comments on TikTok.

One comment implied that Maggie's spirit is living on through Camper. "It wasn't just her carrying that newspaper," the TikToker wrote.

"She has big paws to fill and she's doing just fine," a commenter said.

Another comment said: "She's like, I've been training all my life for this, it's time."

Some people have been reduced to tears—which isn't unusual for TikTok users.

"Good lord.... All I do is cry of pure joy from this app," a commenter said about the emotional clip.

Update 12/01/23 10:40 a.m. ET: The article has been amended to change the Guillou's job role.

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