IHA Permanent Grand Champion HBV Camilla MSP (IHR # 853)

Grand Dowager of the Hedgehog Government of North America

12/02/96 – 2/26/05

Camilla was a true renaissance lady whose remarkable life was an inspiration to all who knew her. During her lifetime she wore many hats; loving mother, herd matriarch, caring mentor, grief counselor, soccer coach, cancer survivor, show hog, IHA Permanent Grand Champion and Grand Dowager.

Camilla was born in West Chicago, Illinois, on December 2, 1996 and moved to Wisconsin in January 1997 to become the third Milwaukee Superpog. In May 1997 she assumed the duties of herd matriarch. Camilla took her leadership position very seriously and, in addition to nurturing several litters of her own was a loving and supportive friend to many generations of Milwaukee SuperPogs. Camilla was particularly skilled in mentoring young newly weaned hedgie girls and helping them adjust to herd living.  She was also a sensitive grief counselor who was adept at consoling older hedge ladies who lost life long cage mates. 

Although Camilla lived to the ripe old age of eight years, two months, and three weeks, she was always very much young at heart and loved nothing better than a game of Hedgie Soccer or a good game of catch with her cage mates.  In fact, Camilla invented Hedgie Soccer.  As a youngster, Camilla would entertain herself by running back and forth in her cage guiding a toy ball with her body. After she retired from breeding and moved to community living, she taught her soccer skills to her cage mates and soon they were all playing. Over the years Camilla has roomed with most of the female SuperPogs so now  they all play Hedgie Soccer.  At other times everyone just stands around in a circle and pass the ball among themselves while they wait for their turn on the exercise wheel.

Camilla's love of life enabled her to survive two major mid-life medical crises that would have been fatal for most hedgehogs.   Camilla and I were fortunate that she had a wonderful veterinarian who stood by us during her medical crises and provided the quality veterinary care that enabled her to live such a long and productive life.

In January 2000 four months after giving birth to her last litter she developed a uterine infection and it was discovered that she had a retained fetus. Somehow Camilla had been able to successfully raise a litter, engage in normal active hedgehog behavior, and fully discharge her duties as herd matriarch for four months while battling a deadly Staph infection and being slowly poisoned with toxins from a retained fetus.

Camilla's next brush with death occurred only a few months later when she was diagnosed with an extremely malignant mammary adenocarcinoma.  Although. the pathologist cautioned that Camilla had only a guarded prognosis for survival she never got discouraged or gave up.  Camilla beat the odds and was cancer free the rest of her life. When Camilla finally crossed over the rainbow bridge she had been cancer free for four years and two months. 

After retiring from breeding, Camilla embarked upon a late life career as a show hog.  Camilla did not enter her first show until she was four years old and competed until she was seven. During her show career she won three Grand Champion and two Reserve Grand Champion titles and defeated close to one hundred competitors most of whom were a fraction of her age.  In 1994 Camilla qualified as an International Hedgehog Association Permanent Grand Champion.  In the entire history of hedgehog shows only thirteen hedgehogs have earned this honor.

Camilla the Show Hog

Camilla’s reputation as a wise and caring hedgehog earned her the respect of the entire hedgehog community and culminated in her appointment as the Grand Dowager of the Hedgehog Government of North America, a position she held until her death.  Camilla was seventh in the line of Grand Dowagers which, in the hierarchy of the Hedgehog Government of North America is sort of the hedgehog equivalent of a combination of The Dalai Lama and the Queen Mum.  The Grand Dowager position is not always filled, as a hedgehog of such great wisdom is not often found.

Although Camilla had arthritis in her old age and moved a little slower than in her youth she remained active and alert to the very end. She had a huge heart and loved to meet new people and hedgehogs.  Camilla particularly loved children and children adored her.  The day before she passed over the Rainbow Bridge Camilla and I were watching TV when a little Brownie Girl Scout came to the door with some Girl Scout Cookies that we had ordered.  Of course the little girl was thrilled to meet MS Camilla.  Camilla was equally excited meeting a new friend, with her eyes beaming and nose going a mile a minute.  The next day while I was cuddling her Camilla peacefully crossed over the Rainbow Bridge still young at heart.

Camilla and Michael Aprill celebrating her 8^th Birthday

Hopefully, Camilla’s example will inspire everyone who reads this article to believe, as I do, that, with good nutrition, a stimulating environment, plenty of love, and quality veterinary care, hedgehogs can survive serious medical problems - even cancer - and live a long happy life.