A Sad Goodbye

 CH Bruce's Wrigley Field

Friday, a week ago, after a difficult battle with an unbeatable illness, we had to say goodbye to our beloved Wrigley. Wrigley brought us so much joy as a constant companion with a loveable stubbornness. When we first started looking for a Field Spaniel, we didn't think we'd be able to find one.  There weren't very many Field Spaniel breeders in Texas and waiting lists were long with breeders throughout the country. After an exhaustive search and almost giving up, we found a breeder near Houston, who had a recent litter with puppies that hadn't been promised to anyone yet. Wriggy had the sweetest disposition from the first day we met him. He gave sweet kisses and big bear hugs. The occasional outburst of singing (i.e. howling) would put smiles on the faces of everyone present.  

Look at that sweet puppy!

Ivy meeting Wrigley the night we brought him home.  She wasn't sure what to think of him.

Ivy had to show Wriggs who was boss a few times and whose toys were whose, but they got along well.  When they were both younger, they would chase each other all around the house. 

Do you think the stick is big enough?

Wrigley loved walks.  He wasn't much for playing fetch, but he lived for walks. At our first house in Sugar Land, there was a big lake that he loved to walk around. 

 

We drove to IL one Thanksgiving.  It snowed while we were there.  Wrigley had fun eating the snow.

 

Wrigley had a passion for his (our) family. He loved his daily meals almost as much. For several years, he would rise early with the sole intention of obtaining his morning meal. He knew when it was time to eat in the morning and evening.  After you fed him in the morning, you could go back to bed, but if you didn't get up and feed him, there was no sleeping. The last few years though, he'd wait till we got up to eat breakfast.  He loved treats and was known to go whine by them until you gave him one.  These last few months when his medicine made him so hungry, he'd even whine by his meds knowing he took those with peanut butter.  He was a smart dog.  He counter and table surfed.  We're still pushing things back out of habit.  He loved when Jessica's mom was here because she always forgot and he would grab her sandwich or toast.

Squirrel watching!

He was such a handsome boy!

I guess he did not learn from when he was a puppy.  He really thought he'd get this inside.

When we got Wrigley, the breeder asked us not to neuter him right away in case he wanted to breed or show him.  We agreed.  When we took him to get groomed sometime between age 2-3, the breeder and his handler couldn't believe how great he looked.  They wanted to show him.  I took him to a few classes and practiced with him in the backyard to get him ready for his first show.  From the first show on, he won best of breed every time!!  He was great in the ring and always happy.  The judges always commented on his wagging tail.  Peggy showed him every time and was great with him.  He became a Champion and was even invited to the huge Eukanuba show.  He was the 16th ranked Field Spaniel in the AKC Field Spaniel Breed Rankings in 2006.  

Wriggy was always so good with the kids.  Tyler broke him in some and even though he was older and you could tell Molly was bothering him some, he never growled or snapped at her.  He was just so sweet. 

He is not biting her here; she is feeding him a treat. 

Scott and I were trying to make a list of all the crazy things Wrigley ate.  So far we've come up with a candle, a pen, crayons; a bag of chocolate chips, raw chicken he grabbed from the counter, one day I turned around and he was walking off with a whole loaf of bread; just last month he stole sweet potatoes from the bottom shelf in the pantry; one Thanksgiving he got the turkey innards; he loved to take the plastic bags when I was unloading groceries; and any other food he could get from the kids.

 

This picture was taken on his 8th birthday!

There will be no replacing our Wrigley Bear. Wrigley, we are so glad you were part of our lives for 8 1/2 years. We couldn't be more grateful for your companionship and friendship over these many years. While we weren't ready to say goodbye so soon, you will hold a very special place in our hearts forever. Goodbye, Friend. WE LOVE YOU!