Gone too soon: ABS12 FC Augden von Moosbach-Zuzelek, ME, RE, VC, BHP-G

Rest in Peace

ABS12 FC Augden von Moosbach-Zuzelek, ME, RE, VC, BHP-G

3/11/2003 - 10/11/2014

The last few days have been very difficult as we have been grieving the loss of Auggie owned and loved by Sherry and Phil Ruggieri. He died due to complications from Congestive Heart Failure. 

This year we have lost several dogs, and I have not been able to bring myself to update our website and put my own feelings into words. I know that I need to do it but I keep postponing it. 

Auggie was this once-in-a-lifetime dog for Sherry and she wrote beautifully "I have had to say goodbye to the most fantastic dog ever - my heart dog, who was placed in my arms in May of 2003 and I shed tears of joy, I now shed tears of sorrow and pain, for he has left us. Like the tin man, I know I have a heart because I can feel it breaking. Auggie and I were so connected. He was a sweet, loving partner who led me on such a fantastic journey - through trials and tribulations, wins and losses - breaking records along the way. He was the first FC to win the Invitational 2 years in a row; he won it his first time entered. In the 9 years he was a field champion, he was in the top 20 all but one - most of the time he was in the top 10! He was ALWAYS number 1 in my heart - a heart he has taken a piece of with him."

I know that tears keep on flowing. But as Washington Irving said: "There is a sacredness in tears. They are not the mark of weakness, but of power. They speak more eloquently than ten thousand tongues. They are the messengers of overwhelming grief, of deep contrition, and of unspeakable love."

We will write more about Auggie soon. For now all we can say is: Good bye Auggie, sleep tight. We hope that Alfi and Elli watch over you.

Congratulations to Sherry Ruggieri and her Auggie on their great accomplishment!

Congratulations to Sherry and Phil Ruggieri whose Auggie (FC Augden von Moosbach Zuzelek, ME, RN, VC, BHP-G) passed the 1000 Field Champion Merit Lifetime Point mark on 9/10/2012. He is the 14th Field Champion that surpassed the 1000 point threshold. Sherry, we are so proud of you and Auggie! Sherry's friends know very well how much she loves Auggie and how lucky he is to have her heart.

Auggie's pictures

As promised we show some pictures of Auggie (FC Augden von Moosbach-Zuzelek ME, RN, VC, BHP-G) owned by Sherry Ruggieri. A week ago he won for the second time the Buckeye Invitational Trial. A big thank you to Shawn Nies for the pictures.

Women with their wirehaired dachshunds at the Buckeye Invitational: Sherry Ruggieri with Auggie (center), Shawn Nies with Gypsy (left) and Laurel Whistance-Smith with Lily (right).

The Award ceremony: Ann Deister is presenting Sherry and Auggie with the plaque and huge rosette for winning the Invitational.

A score table shows results of eight series of braces. Auggie won his brace six times, lost one brace and one time he was a bye dog. Two losses mean elimination from the field trial.

The Buckeye Invitational Trial Winner

FC Augden von Moosbach-Zuzelek "Auggie"
Second year in a row

HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to Sherry Ruggieri and her Auggie (FC Augden von Moosbach-Zuzelek) who today won the 5th Buckeye Dachshund Club Invitational Trial held in Dundee, Ohio. Auggie was also the Winner of the trial last year. It is an amazing achievement!

The format of this trial is different from a "regular" AKC trial. Twenty best field trial dachshunds from a previous year are invited to compete in this annual event. They are braced for the 1st and 2nd series. Each brace is judged by two judges who determine which dog loses and which one wins a given brace. After the 2nd series, dogs with two losses are eliminated from the further competition, and remaining dogs get braced again. This process goes on until in the end there is only one brace and the dog winning that brace gets the title of Winner of the Buckeye Dachshund Club Invitational Trial.

The four judges were: William Dyer, Mary Powell, Robert Schwalbe and Scott Woodall.

In 2006 Larry Gohlke's Lolly (FC Ulrika von Moosbach-Zuzelek) won the trial, and the first Invitational, in 2004, was won by Auggie's sire FC Alfi von der Hardt-Hoehe. Auggie's dam, FC Elli v Moosbach-Zuzelek was invited this year too as she was ranked number 3 in the country, but she had to stay home due to her severe false pregnancy and my bad cold.

We'll post pictures of Auggie and Sherry when they become available.