Thanks for the kind words

Guys, I saw your post about my little buddy. Everyone knew Wrigley. I have had lots of phone calls, text, messages and FB comments. I even had a guy offer me a free heeler pup. He started having seizures back in March. They happened about once a month and never lasted over a minute. I guess it was at that point I realized the that the day would come. Although he had slowed down over the last couple years nothing else really changed. Mid day Monday he was acting a little out of the ordinary. We went to the house about 6pm. It was downhill from there. My wife and I stayed up all night with him. He was sick and restless. Very disoriented and confused. I was at the vets office when they opened Tuesday.. They drew blood and said he had acute Kidney failure. The vet and I had a long talk. Lots of options. None sounded like they guaranteed any results. I looked straight at the vet and asked the question, these treatments are for me not him arent they? There was a pause and yes. Even if they could save him in the short term there was no hope to return to the quality of life he had before. I didnt want him to suffer and I never could have forgave myself for not being with him at the end. Boy that was tough. The seizures, his overall health from almost 14 years on the farm made what lie ahead look very bleak and he deserved better. I miss him dearly. Tuesday and Wednesday were tough. Today was better. Just always expect him to be right beside me and now he is not, Pretty quiet in the house in the evenings now too. So thanks for the nice comments. I have many years of memories and so many pics of him. When the saddens passes I will relive all the good times!
Bill

May the entire family of his find peace. Jim

So very sorry for your loss!
John

Im sure he knew he had the best possible life with you and was loved. Always sad to lose a four-legged member of the family.
Gerrit

Pretty sure we know how you feel.
We were on vacation about 2 years ago in the summer.
Had a 14 .5 year old Boxer, normal life is between 9 to 12 years for them.
Got back from vacation, we had stopped at a vet in Arkansas, and she said wait until we get home and have our vet check her out.
Home vet took some x/rays and determined her stomach had 'flipped'.
We had the same discussion with our vet. The vet said it would be expensive and the Boxer may not even survive surgery.
Made the choice to have her put down 3 days before she would have been 14.5 years old. Her name was Princess.
We did have her cremated and scattered her ashes where we lived before along with some around the pond where we live now. Our prayers are with you. Doug and Teresa. DOUG

Very sorry to hear that Bill. Wrigley & his stories will be missed. Hope the dark cloud passes soon enough for you.

Mike

My sympathies to you Bill.
We here have missed Wrigley And you since you left this place.
You were one of the best prose writers here and I always enjoyed your posts. Your photos were just icing on the cake.
Jerry

Sorry to hear of the loss of your little buddy. We lost our big dog Bruno 3 years ago February, and still miss him. Smart dogs learn so many things you say, words and phrases, not just mindless fur balls, but actual friends that respond. And that makes it great while we have them and miserable when they pass. All the best, Bruce.

I am so sorry. It is so very tough to hear.

Sorry. Good companions are hard to find.

Vito

Sorry for your loss.

Hope you have some pictures to keep around, that helped me when my last dog passed. That's been probably 10 years ago, and I still look at the pictures and recall memories.

My deepest sympathies, I know what you are going thru. My wife's Jack Russel was acting funny right after Christmas a few years ago. She took her to the vet and they said she was full of cancer. She had her put down right then and cried for close to a year before she could have another dog. Loves the new one more than the real kids sometimes but still misses Candy. Hope you find another one as good as Wrigley was. Chris

Sorry to hear, they really become a part of the family.

I lost my 12 year old Beagle 3 years ago he was my best friend
I have this little story hanging on my wall
I am sure a lot of you have seen it

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable. All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together.

Author Unknown

Old dogs are hard to let go of. Sorry for the loss of your friend and companion.

Wow I hope you guys don't think I'm weak but I'm in tears as I'm typing this. We lost Ivan our boston terrier 3 years ago. He was born the day hurricane Ivan hit Florida. That dog was truly the best friend I have ever had. When I was hot shotting cars around the US he rode with me. I had him in 45 of the 50 states and every province and territory west of Toronto. I buried him beside our windmill on one of our farms. There truly is a place in heaven for a good dog.

Bill I'm so sorry to hear about Wrigley.

I remember the pictures you use to post of him here. Sorry for the loss and I know firsthand too how tuff it can be.

Sorry for your loss of a good friend! Ron MN

Man, I feel you, Bill. Losing a pet is (in my eyes) worse than a family member. As you said - they are there at all times. They hold no judgements. They only want play time, love and compassion (oh, and lots of treats)... I had to put my first and BEST French Mastiff down in 2018 after we moved into our new home. That dog was with me through EVERYTHING. Relationships, deaths of parents, near foreclosure, job losses, the list goes on.

To this day, I still hate mowing grass near her grave because it causes me to shed a tear. She was by far the best dog for ME, and she was adored by everyone.

All the best to you and your family during these difficult times. Know that, although a new dog will not be the same - when the time is right - the love and companionship is just as strong. Run free, Wrigley!

I feel I know what Wrigley meant to you. He was very well liked here on YT also.

Thanks for sharing many of your adventures with him for all of us to enjoy. I sure hope one day you see fit to get another buddy. A dog couldn't ask for a better person to be with than you.

Bill, I know exactly what you're going through. About a year ago my red heeler, Alice, started acting strange and I took her to the vet who did X reys and tests but didn't seem to find anything so sent her home. That night she was confused and in the morning couldn't even find her way out of the house. Her head was turned way to the left and when I took her to the vet the next day he said she couldn't straighten it. The decision was easy as she couldn't be left in that condition, just as you said. She was 13 and I had her since she was four. My best buddy, smart, with me all the time just a best friend. Everyone loved that dog. I'm not emotional but I literally cried. What got me most is seeing how bad she got in just a couple of days. Maybe a brain tumor or stroke?
Alice



Didn't think I'd ever get another dog after having Alice. Then I saw an ad in Craigs list for Lola, a full blooded Australian Cattle Dog (Heeler) three years old. Her family moved and couldn't take her so left her with a friend to find a new home. I've had her a week and she is already a best friend, just couldn't find a better dog. Very unusual for that breed to be as calm as she is.
Lola


Take you're time and you'll find another buddy. Wish you the best.

Sorry about your dog. Please visit more often Bill. We miss your posts. Bill

We lost our three when our house burned down in March 2020.Plus,the grandsons two were in the house for a visit.They didn't burn,but were gone quickly from the smoke.I couldn't even dig them out of the rubble.My neighbor did it for me with my little excavator.(he's a dog lover)To this day neither one of us have cared one iota about the house,just the dogs.Last September my wife brought home a rescue pit/mix(mutt).Her owner had died,and it turns out that people that want pits don't want mutts.It's like she has been here her whole life.She tended to jump back when A man would reach out his hand,more so with a big man.She is getting over that,some big guy must have whacked her.Women and kids she is all over them.My wife wanted one a few years old so they would kind of be out of the rough puppy stage.She didn't know pits are sometimes puppies until the day they die.

Sorry to hear about Wrigley, dogs are special. I still miss our old collie Duke, and he's been gone for 27 years.

those dogs get into your heart. take you time find another one. new dog won't take Wrigley's place but make one of his own.