Spring Break
Stump the champ
By: Jason Weidner
Issue date: 2/26/09 Section: News
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Stump, who does not answer to his show name Ch Clusexx Three D Grinchy Glee, first came to the Texas A&M Small Animal Hospital when a near-death experience almost ended his show career four years ago.
"[Stump] was basically a dead dog when we arrived [at the animal hospital]," Scott Sommers, Stump's professional handler, said.
For 13 straight days, Stump was visited by people all the way from his home kennel in Houston, Texas.
"He had an infection of his heart valves. And that lead to a body-wide infection," his veterinarian, Dr. Katherine Snyder, said.
Choking up while retelling the story, Sommers acknowledged he and the owner, Ceil Ruggles of Houston, Texas, considered putting the dog down at one point. But the handler said they gave the chocolate brown dog 24 more hours to improve.
"Luckily, Stump turned around just enough to give us all hope," he said.
A few weeks later, the doctors had Stump's infections completely stabilized. The rest is history.
Not surprisingly, Stump has a flurry of press interactions over the coming weeks. He will tour different parts of Texas, but because of his age - Stump is 10 years old - Sommers said the activity will be limited.
"We'll make some events, but not all of them," he said. "We're going to head to California for a few days too. The "Ellen [Degeneres] Show" wants to see him. And we'll make the Macy's Day parade and the White House. That'll be good."
During Wednesday's press conference, College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences Dean Greg Adams asked Sommers to explain to the crowd what made Stump a particularly special dog.
"Judges think about what the dog is bred to do," Sommers said.
In Stump's case, Sussex spaniels, although a short breed, are bred to hunt, often in muddy conditions.
"They are not dwarfs. As you can see, Stump's legs would allow him to run through mud quite well. His back is also flat. I've never seen a dog like this whose back didn't bend some. It's amazing that he's as strong as he is at his age."
As one can imagine, Stump has a long history of victories in dog competitions, but did not get started on a winning note. He lost his first competition.
Since then Sommers said the dog has been successful, collecting more than 50 Best in Shows and the winner of the Sporting Breed in 2004. In fact, Sommers said Stump had no practice leading up to the Westminster Kennel Club's Competition. They entered just to have fun.
"We didn't know he would do this well," he said. "We were just hoping to win the breed."
Even though one of the competitors was a 3-year-old son of Stump's, Stump came out on top.
Toward the end of Wednesday's event, Sommers received a plaque and Adams asked if Stump's Aggie vet could get a picture with the spaniel.
"He looks different than when I treated him," the vet said smiling. "He didn't have this much gold," she said while petting Stump's long, almost basset hound-like ears. "He must have his show coat on."
Immediately Adams said, tongue planted firmly in cheek, "I need you two to smile. Make sure the pictures encourages people to donate."
Now retired Stump should have plenty of time to enjoy his fame and guilty pleasures: liver and plush dog toys. And he only gets to enjoy it all because of the care he received from what Adams says is the "best animal hospital in the country. All the others know it. They are just afraid to admit it."
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