Whoppa Gillespie of Bordeaux, CGC
Can Ch.Collerie
Homeport Tobias x Lady Rackatash
August 24, 1994 – November 28, 2008
Today I said
goodbye to my heart dog. No dog has ever
touched me
like my Whoppa Man. Some dogs teach you
about training, some teach
you about handling, but Whoppa taught me the
meaning of unconditional
love.
From the moment I met that ragamuffin in the
shelter in Rockland, Maine he stole my
heart. He was just supposed to be a foster
dog, but I could never have let him go.
Born in Maine and raised on a lobster boat
until he was two, Whoppa was a perfect match
in our household. He loved the boat. Having
been shuffled around for the next 7 years of
his life, he wasn't as perfect in our house
initially because he was terrified that
someone would abandon him again. (He ripped
down the kitchen door frame three times!)
When I decided that I had better take him to
work with me
everyday in order to save my house and my
marriage, I solved the majority of his
separation anxiety. Of course, those of you
who have seen him at shows know that he
NEVER got used to a crate or being away from
his mother!
His name became my persona on the weblists
and many an introduction was created when
his name was spoken. I remember meeting the
owner of his sire at a show one day when I
called Whoppa's name. She knew that there
was only ONE Whoppa! And he went over to her
at 9 years old and put his head in her lap
as if to say, "I know you". And yet again
this spring, they met and he was stuck to
her like glue.
As much as it
hurt me to let him go, I knew that he would
have done the same for me. So I let my
Whoppa go. I know that Daisey, King, Allie,
Bucky the foster dog, Hogan the boarder,
Emily's Daisy and Barney and most
importantly his brother, Baxter, father,
Toby and mother, Lady are all there with him
now and he is renewed to the boy that I met
all those many years ago (but with a little
more knowledge and inner peace).
Throughout his almost 5 years with me, he
has traveled all over this country as a
representative for English Springer Spaniel
Club of Long Island – Rescue, he has made
many friends. Without Whoppa, little Kate
would never have fallen in love with
Springers and rescued DW, without Whoppa's
letters for the Eastern raffle I doubt it
would have been such a success. Today I
officially retired his purple tuxedo
emblazoned with ESSCLI-Rescue. It will never
be worn again, because no one could ever
pull it off quite like he did!
My only regret is that he left us before I
was able to complete the long awaited
registration process. After much hard work,
I was able to get 5 five dogs from assorted
situations renewed to their AKC status and
Whoppa was to be one of them. Maybe they
will give him his AKC number posthumously.
But no matter what, he was a dog among dogs,
he was the best and he represented our
beloved breed with a zest for life and
people that doesn't come along everyday.
Although he is no longer on the face of this
particular planet, Whoppa's name will live
on in a special project that has been
created for ESSCLI-Rescue. This was in
the planning stages before Whoppa passed
away but the problem we all had was we
didn't want to take the money to create it
away from the rescue dogs that needed help.
So we decided to create a fund in honor of
Whoppa and dedicate this project to him.
Once completed it will be self-sustaining
and will help us raise even more to help the
homeless English Springer Spaniels that come
our way.
Goodnight my beloved Whoppa, I will always
love you ~ my endless love.
Nanci
To donate to the Whoppa Fund, Click below:
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