In January 2015, I laid eyes on the most beautiful boy ever.
If you knew me in my dog agility days, you knew that my red Aussie Socks was my entire world, my best friend, and my competition buddy for years. But, for some reason I was always drawn to the blue merles. I swore I would get one, some day, some how. It was my dream dog.
So on that fateful day scrolling through Tinder (try not to judge me ok), when I came across this handsome boy (and his owner too) with this exact photo, it stopped me in my tracks. He got me. I swiped right and we started talking right away. Later that night, I met Robbie for the first time. I am not going to lie, it took everything in me not to say "and...where is your dog?" After all, that is really who I matched with! Fortunately Robbie and I clicked, and it wasn't long after when I got to meet Wrangler. To say it was love at first sight is not a stretch. When we were introduced he was 1.5 years old, but he let me became his second person without a thought.
Everything that followed in my relationship with Robbie is thanks to Wrangler. Starting with our first date, leading to our marriage and our two beautiful baby girls. None of it would have happened if it weren't for him...and who knows where I would be, and who I would be with. Certainly not living out my dream life in Texas with the best husband and family. Sure, Robbie may have something to do with it, but there is no denying Wrangler's integral part in our introduction.
Wrangler has been by Robbie's side for 9 years. Truly, his ride or die. Robbie watched him be born, and has loved him every minute since.
Wrangler has splashed in the lakes, played in the sand and waves on the beach, swam in the rivers, dashed through the snow, and run through the fields from California to Oregon, from Idaho to Texas.
He's ridden in truck beds, stuck his head out car windows, cruised in boats, and on the back of quads and tractors.
He's been by our side on so many walks, trail rides, hikes, and cattle drives.
He's been a guard dog and our protector no matter where we were.
He's slept in tents under the stars, on the back porch of his lake house, and on the bed with us when he's feeling real spoiled.
He's been the a sneakiest stealer of food like banana bread and pecan pie (glass pie pan and all), and the master of getting out of trouble by changing his M.O. to convince us "oh he would never do that".
He's been dressed up as a best man for our wedding and he walked his daddy down the aisle to me, in the relationship he started.
He's been dressed up by two little girls and received hundreds of head pats by little hands and sweet kisses on the nose and face.
He's been loved whole heartedly by a man, a woman, and two little girls. He has been the best dog anyone could ask for.
He is our boy and he always will be. Saying goodbye has been one of the hardest things we've ever had to do.
Our laps will feel empty without his face resting on them, and our hearts will ache without him here.
Thank you Wrangler for a lifetime of love, memories, companionship, kisses, cuddles, and dingo-face smiles. But thank you, above all, for bringing us together. We truly owe it all to you.
"How lucky am I to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard"
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