Brittany Champions 
Since 9/19/98
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Field Champion Homeacres Gold
Dust
Champion Willey's PDQ Renegade Riley
In Memory
of Riley - I never knew how much my heart could ache, until Riley
died. I didn't even know he was sick, until the gut wrenching phone call from
Bob early in the morning on November 16, 1999. Bob reported Riley had been
a bit lethargic and off his food for a couple days, but no temperature or
other sign of illness. Suddenly, he took a turn for the worse and Bob
rushed him to the local veterinarian where multiple tests were inconclusive. I
gave authorization to do whatever it would take to save his life, but he died
in Bob's truck on the way to the Veterinary Hospital at Iowa State University.
An autopsy concluded that he died of complications from a massive anaerobic
bacterial infection, most likely nocardia or actinomycosis. A deadly risk for
any hunting dog, and even if diagnosed early, treatment is long term with an
unknown prognosis.
It's been almost
four years, and not a day goes by that I don't think of that dog. I've shed
millions of tears, but the joy he brought in the four short years we
shared, still warms my heart like nothing else.
Riley was my second Brittany, and Fergie
seemed to love him as much as I did. He excelled in the show ring as a young
dog, and was the inspiration for an article I wrote in 1996 for the ABC
magazine, "Dual Dreams". Showing Riley was a joy, and finishing
his CH title over tough California competition with me as his handler was a
thrill I'll always remember.
Sired by ABC Hall of Famer, NAC/DC/AFC
Renegade's Kansas Kid, out of FC Willey's Famous Flirt, Riley was the pick of the
litter, bred by Rick Willey, of Minneapolis. If luck and time had been on our
side, he could have been the 5th Dual Champion out of "Kid". He
needed only one more field win for the FC/DC title . . .
I received over 100 emails from other
Brittany owners and friends all over the country in the days and weeks after
Riley's death, and that outpouring of sympathy and support was appreciated
more than I could ever express. Ten days later, Marc and I traveled to the ABC
Nationals in Booneville, Arkansas, and were honored by a moment of silence and
words of sympathy spoken by the Chairperson of the Nat'l Specialty Show.
Riley's absence in the Field Trial Dog Class and Parade of National Qualifiers
was painfully obvious.
Our friends Ken and Jane Windom of Ames,
Iowa had taken care of the arrangements for Riley's cremation, and brought his
ashes to us. The box now sits on the bottom shelf of a full trophy case
in the living room. His many ribbons are packed away in a box. Pictures are
everywhere. He lives in our hearts and memories.
AFC Lit'l
Buddy Chip MH was put to rest on March 15, 2002 at the age of almost
14 years. Bred by Harold Perry of Bakersfield, Marc picked Chip from a litter
of nine at the age of six weeks and took him home two weeks later. Chip was a
natural bird dog, and Marc must have shot at least 1000 birds over him. If you
want to view a moving tribute to this amazing dog, visit www.brittany.org
and click on "Memories".
Chip wasn't a big dog, but he sure had a big
heart and never let up in his zealous pursuit of birds. He hated to honor
another dog's point, but cooperated enough with Marc in training and AKC Hunt
Tests to easily earn his Senior and Master Hunter titles by the age of four.
Marc always has goals, and the next was to
get ONE placement at a field trial in an AKC Gun Dog stake. At the age of
7 when many dogs are retired from competition, Chip went out with Marc (on
foot), and delivered a polished 2nd place performance at his very first field
trial. That started an amazing field trial performance record of 35 wins/
placements, 9 points towards an FC title, and the achieving of his AFC
title. Marc and Chip were almost always in the ribbons . . . not bad at all
for a little old dog trained and handled by a new amateur. At the age of 11,
after a hilarious outing with Vicki as his handler, Chip retired from field
trial competition. Did I mention he hated to honor another dog's point? Yep,
stealing point will get you thrown out.
Chip was bred 7-8 times, never to
a field titled female, but always to good bird dogs. Bred once to a Show CH
who produced 2 female puppies, Marc kept one and named her "Lit'l Ms
Smarty Pants". Kelly was the same age as Riley, and was actively
campaigned in the show ring and field trials with moderate success in both. At
the age of 5, Kelly went to Arizona to live with her breeder/ co-owner. We
know she's dearly loved, and has a great home.
Chip was 11 when we lost Riley, and from
that point on we realized that every day with him was a gift, as you never
know when tragedy or old age will call a dog to Dog Heaven. In the fall of
2000, Chip was very ill for about 10 days. He couldn't keep food down, and had
chronic diarrhea. But antibiotics and TLC kept him going, and he lived another
18 months almost trouble free. Right up until the very end, he was full of
life and spunk, demanding to be fed by barking hysterically, and not taking
any "interference" from the young dogs.
On Friday morning, March 15, 2002, Chip didn't
eat his breakfast and Marc was concerned about him. I watched him sleeping so
soundly that he didn't move for hours. At noon I woke him up and took him
outside for a potty break. He went down, and couldn't get up. In tears I
called Marc at work and he came home immediately. We hugged Chip over and
over, saying our goodbyes thru our tears. Then we made the short drive to his
long time vet, Dr. Sydney Brown. He never woke up again but his heart was
still beating when we carried him into the office. We all had tears in our
eyes as he was gently laid to rest.
Chip's ashes rest in a little cedar box on a
shelf in Marc's office. We loved him dearly, and know how lucky we were to
have him for almost 14 years. He truly was Marc's BEST Lit'l Buddy Chip.
Trooper
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