For a long, long time, I’ve been thinking about what I would say when the awful day came and Tucker was no more. He has been Rugby’s best friend for many years, and they’ve had so many fun adventures together! When I got the simple text message from Tucker’s mom that read: “He is gone”, my heart sank all the way to the ground. I remember saying out loud, “What will I do without Tucker in my life?”
Tucker was loved by far more people and dogs than just Rugby and I! As of this writing, the Facebook post that announced Tucker’s passing has currently got 1,200 responses, 602 comments, and 144 shares! To say that he was well loved is the understatement of the year!!
His mom, Vicki Corwin, gave him the most wonderful voice and character that became so well known to so many through his Facebook page, Tucker the Corgi Master. She playfully created a little dog whose main ambition in life was to thwart the attacks of the evil squirrels who were always certainly trying to take over the world!
With his office as “The General”, he was able to recruit new members of his team, “The Squirrelminators” who were also dedicated in ridding the world from the evil squirrel takeover that all dogs will tell you is a very real thing!
It’s been overwhelming to me to read the comments on Tucker’s Facebook page about all of the various ways that he touched people’s lives. Post after post reads that “Tucker was my very first Facebook friend.” And so he was. Tucker was everybody’s friend. He didn’t know a stranger, and once you met him, it wasn’t long before you became one of his BFFs…..Best Friends Forever!
One of the truly delightful and wonderful things about Tucker is that he didn’t see breed or species. Tucker had friends from all walks of life, and from all kinds of species: all breeds of cats and dogs, from a rat to a peacock and from rescues to champions, Tucker only saw friends. He just never cared about anything else. He was Facebook’s welcome committee of one, and he had a wonderful way of making everyone feel like they’d come home….that they were safe….that they were welcome….that they were wanted…..that they were loved……and that they mattered to him.
Tucker didn’t have to talk to his friends every single day. He might not hear from someone for a long, long time, but when their paths crossed, it was as if he had just seen them the day before! His love was deep and his memory was long! If old friends drifted away and seldom came to visit him, he often sought them out and made sure they knew he was thinking about them. If you were Tucker’s friend once, you were his friend for life if he had a say in it!
Tucker was probably best known for being friends with everyone he met. But apart from that, he was also known for his desire to have fun!! When life became challenging or unusually hard, Tucker’s response was always to plan an adventure for his friends. Tucker’s adventures were virtual experiences that took us all back to childhood and a land of make believe. The adventure photos were often so funny with snappy captions that made everyone laugh and created wonderful relationships between dogs!
Tucker took his friends everywhere he could. If he could think of a place….he planned an adventure! He had adventures to Disney World, outer space, the mountains, the beach, camping in the woods, aboard cruises, weddings, picnics, barn dances….you name it! Adventures too many to mention!
For a couple of days, when Tucker had an adventure going, life at my house slowed to a crawl! I couldn’t wait to see what Tucker would post, and Rugby always had to think of a clever comment about the photo! Entire conversations happened in the comments, and something unexpected, unplanned and magical began to happen!
A loving, caring community began to spring up! When Tucker invited his friends on an adventure, they were all in it together. They interacted with each other not only in the photos that Tucker would create and post, but also into the comments as well. And as the magic grew, the virtual friends in Tucker’s adventures, became real life friends as well.
In Tucker’s imaginary world, there were no dogs who had aggression issues or health issues. There was no abuse or neglect, and pedigreed dogs stood shoulder to shoulder next to little mutts who were no account at all. Dogs and cats got along together, and the result was that everybody had fun! Tucker was such a catalyst for silly, goofy FUN!! Things that could never happen in real life were always possible in Tucker’s world of adventure. Tucker’s fun took grown adults back to their carefree days of childhood fun and pretend. When we were on a Tucker adventure, the cares of life were put on a shelf, and all that mattered was what photo would we see next on Tucker’s page!
Tucker was one of Rugby’s very first Facebook friends. Rugby started his page in November of 2013, and when I started his page, my hope was to provide support for other dog owners who had the difficult dogs of the universe. Not all dogs have behavioral problems that can be fixed, and I knew all too well the sting of rejection because I had a neurotic dog who wasn’t welcome anywhere.
When Tucker sent Rugby his “Squirrelminator ID Card”, I could have cried! Tucker didn’t notice that Rugby wasn’t a purebred Corgi or purebred dog in any capacity. He simply didn’t care. Because of Tucker, everyone got to play. There was no choosing sides, and no one got left out. He looked for the dog that needed a boost, and made sure that dog got to participate in at least one photo on an adventure. When Tucker’s friends would sadly go on to the Rainbow Bridge, Tucker began creating “angel appearances” on his adventures.
Tucker introduced so many friends to each other! Part of the magic that he created was simply providing the vehicle for people to get to know each other. It was commonplace to see a “New Friend Alert” on Tucker’s page, and it was an opportunity for all of us to help a fellow dog owner advance their pet page and gain new friends. It was as though Tucker had radar for finding new friends!
Through his page and his adventures, we all got to know each other too. We learned about each other’s pets, and their likes and dislikes. Little gifts would arrive in the mail for Rugby, and my mailman got such a laugh out of the cards and boxes that he would deliver addressed to Rugby James!
Because of Tucker, in Rugby’s first year on Facebook, Rugby sent out many little polka dottie piggies to his various friends. I have no clue how many of those little piggies we mailed that year, but I do remember ordering a ton of piggie boxes so that we could send Rugby’s very favorite toys to his new friends. It was so much fun sending piggies and smiling at the videos or photos that were posted. Because of Tucker, we were able to bring that joy to countless other dogs, and that’s something that still makes me smile after all of those years!
One of the posts I saw in tribute to Tucker this last week said, “Tucker made us a family.” Something inside of my heart leaped at that statement because I thought to myself, “That’s IT!!” That’s exactly what happened. Tucker had an amazing ability to work his magic and turned strangers into friends who became family to each other.
One special memory that I have with Tucker that was especially meaningful was several years ago, when Rugby had a big melanoma scare. He had a growth on his lower gum that grew in size over time, and started to push his teeth out of place. When his vet saw it, she knew it needed to come out immediately, and told me that mouth growths are all too often cancerous. Of course, this happened on a Friday, and Rugby had already been fed, so I had a long, long weekend to wait and think and worry! Tucker came to the rescue and posted a special prayer request for Rugby, and let me tell you, I cried such big tears that someone really cared about my little hot mess of a dog! So many people left the kindest, most heartfelt comments on that Facebook post, and all weekend long, when the fear became too much, I went to that post and re-read it all over again. Tucker gave me hope. He gave me courage. And when the pathology report came back clean, I had someone who wanted to celebrate with me!
Tucker’s nighttime prayers became a big part of his Facebook page, and everyone in our dog community knew that if you just said the word, Tucker would add you to his list and pray for you, as well as get the word out so that others could join in as well. It was just one more way that Tucker taught us how to be a family and care for one another.
So much caring has happened in an online dog community all because of Tucker. I think that a large part of that caring is because Tucker espoused many of the qualities that we all want to have as humans, but never quite manage to pull off. He was the best version of what a human could be, and that’s something that I think many of us grieve in his passing.
The good news is that in going forward in life, we can grab the best of what Tucker taught us: how to be a friend and how to have fun! Those are things that we can practice every day of the week, and it’s a wonderful way to create a living legacy for a little dog who touched so many lives in his fifteen and a half years.
I’m going to try to live my life with Tucker’s motto ringing in my ears: “Keep your face to da sun and Tucky lubs!”
Rest in peace, Tucker the Corgi Master. You changed my life forever, and you will always and forever remain as Rugby’s BFF!
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Beautiful!
Beautiful tribute! Thanks for expressing what so many of us are feeling.
It's truly wonderful that so many of us have had the same story and experiences with how Tucker touched our lives. That consistency of love, fun and friendship was an unbeatable combination! Thanks for reading and taking time to comment! ❤️
Perfect tribute, Mama Sally and Rugby James. Just perfect. Much lubs from McKenzie the Rescued Maltese and da Mommy. 💗💗💗
Thanks so much for reading my blog and taking time to comment, Jane! Rugby was pretty firm that we needed to honor his BFF with a special blog and some postals! Belly rubs to sweet McKenzie!! ❤️
Lovely tribute. Thanks for sharing ❤️❤️❤️
Thank you, Judy! I'm so glad you took time to read my blog and comment! ❤️
Beautifully said! I am smiling through tears.
Thanks, Dala! That's really how much of this blog was written....smiling through tears! I hope it's able to provide some healing and comfort for those who knew Tucker! ❤️
What a beautiful tribute. You put into words what so many of us are feeling. Thank you.
Thank you, Gloria! It was such a common thread in all of the comments on Tucker's FB page! He touched so many of us in the same way, and I think all of us were groping for ways to put our feelings into words! I'm so humbled that I could do that for you! Thanks for your kind comment! ❤️
Beautiful words. Thank you for that tribute to sweet Tucker. My heart broke hearing the news of his passing. My sincere condolences to his dear parents. Thank you mama Potterhead for sharing Tucker with us. Sending hugs and love
Mama Potterhead and Tucker were quite a team! We have felt so blessed to have been touched by their lives, and this blog was an honor to write for them! Tucker was Rugby's very best BFF for many years, and his loss in our hearts has been huge! Thank you so much for reading my blog and taking time to offer such a kind comment! ❤️
Such a wonderful tribute to a precious soul! Thank you, Miss Sally and Rugby! The boys and I love y'all and Tucker! ❤ Angus, Astro and Gerald ❤
Thank you so very much for reading my blog and tsking time to comment, Gerald. I'm so glad you liked our tribute to a very very special little dog! ❤️
Sally and Rugby, This is the most beautifully written tribute to our Tucker we could ever want. You so have a way with words, and there is know way we could thank you enough for this. God bless you and Rugby James always .
Vicki, I'm humbled that you loved my blog so much! I so wanted to make you and Tucker proud by capturing what qualities made Tucker that little dog that so captured all of our hearts! I sincerely hope that we can all pay it forward and share Tucker's legacy of love, fun and friendship as we live out our lives! ❤️
Sally that’s so on point. Through Vicki’s voice Tucker was about loving everyone and inclusion. Once Spencer’s Life was launched, I marveled at the way Tucker brought dogs and people together from everywhere - and kept them connected through posts and activities. I would tell my friends about ‘Corgi Nation’ and they just didn’t get it until they started to read Spencer’s page and then the Christmas Cards from his dog friends. So much fun. And Tucker was such an instrumental part of creating that culture that lives on. I am so grateful for the gift of Tucker’s life: he lives on in the CONNECTIONS between us all. ❤️
Michelle, I read your sweet comment and I thought, "Yesssss!! She gets it!!" You see the exact same things that I saw in Tucker, and what a gift to all of us he was!! Over his years, that was a consistent theme repeated over and over, and it really has helped form the foundation of our Corgi Nation culture! My hope is that we can keep Tucker's heart and memory alive by paying those things forward to others! Thanks so very much for reading and taking time to comment! Belly rubs to sweet Spencer!! ❤️
Beautiful! Tucker will be in all our hearts forever❤️
Thank you, Diane! I'm so glad you liked the blog! My hope is that in keeping Tucker alive in our hearts, we will pay it forward and leave little bits of Tucker here and there in the love and kindness that we share with others! Thanks so much for reading my blog and taking time to comment! ❤️
That was a very informative backstory of Tucker the Corgi Master and a beautiful tribute to him. I only knew him through you and Rugby. I didn't see his posts very often ( FB has been deciding who I get to see). Every now and then a prayer post would appear and I would get to see what was going on with his friends. He and his parents were so compassionate and selfless in their prayers,wanting his friends and their families to be specially thought of.
I knew he had issues with diabetes over time. But I hadn't seen anything from him FOREVER!. So I was really shocked that he had passed!!!. I'm so sorry that you and Rugby have lost such a special friend. I don't have a direct link to his mom and dad,but if you can send me one I would appreciate it. If not I would really appreciate you passing on my condolences to them. Thank you Sally
Hi Linda-Thanks so much for reading my blog and taking time to offer such a sweet comment. I find that I often have to do specific searches for pages that I'd like to see...although I have marked my very favorites that FB shows me first in my newsfeed. You can offer any condolences right on Tucker's page, and Vicki and Bert will see it. They read them all, I promise you! Thanks for wanting to comfort them as they have so often done for others! ❤️
This is a wonderful tribute to a wonderful dog! Let’s all remember that everything Tucker did was possible because of his Mama Vicki! They were a team! ❤️
Thanks, Fran! Teamwork is how we roll at my house, so I'm glad you mentioned that! Vicki gave Tucker a wonderful voice and many of the challenges that they faced together are how they forged their teamwork and relationship. That's another lesson we can carry forward, because they surely could make lemonade out of the lemons life gave to them! Thanks for reading and for your comment! ❤️
What a wonderful tribute to our very dear “fwend” Tucker. Tucky and his mom Vicki and dad Bert have been wonderful “fwends” with me and grandog Peanut. Tucky and family helped us so much when our Peanut went to the Rainbow Bridge in 2014. I know our Peanut and lots of other fwends welcomed da General when he arrived. We will always hold Tucky close to our heart. 💕 Thank you for writing this wonderful tribute to Tucky.
Clarisse, I barely knew Peanut as he went to the Bridge just as I was really getting Rugby's page started. I became friends with Vicki shortly after I started Rugby's page, and she told me story after story about Peanut in our phone conversations! He was such a much loved dog, and I'm so sorry that Rugby and I really didn't have time to know you or Peanut before his trip to the Bridge. I'm so glad you liked my blog and I hope I gave justice to Vicki and Tucker in my writing! Thanks so much for reading and sharing your kind comment! ❤️
Love this! Tucky is what pure love is all about. Sally and Rugby you said it. 💚
Thanks so much for reading and taking time to comment, Amie! I'm so glad you liked my blog. After Tucker was gone, it just occurred to me that we are all missing those things that Tucker gave to us, but that those are things that WE can all share and practice with each other. In doing so, we keep Tucker and his memory alive, and create a legacy of love and caring. ❤️
I want to thank all of you for the prayers for my Mom, Bert and Tucker! I watched that little guy grow up. I’m going to miss him a lot. Again thank you and love and prayers to you all.
Shawn, I'm sure all of us feel the same level of gratitude that your mom and Bert shared Tucker so freely with all of us. He felt like our own dog, and his loss feels just huge to so many of us. Rugby promised Tucker that he would look after Mama Vicki and Daddy Bert, so rest assured that they will receive prayer and so much love from Rugby and me and many others, I'm sure! ❤️
I have been devastated since I learned about Tucker. My heart is broken and I can’t seem to get him off my mind. Although I did not interact as much, I always read his posts and prayers. I will miss him terribly. 💔🐾🐶 He definitely touched my heart. 😢😢😢
Bless your heart Norma! I understand your grief! Tucker was such a special dog and his passing has left a big hole in my heart too!! Taking Tucker's lessons forward give us all a chance to pay it forward with the love and friendship he's shared with us! Big hugs! ❤️
What an amazing tribute to Tucker and mama Vicki. ♥️🐾♥️💔💔
Thank you, Patti! I'm so glad you liked the post!❤️
That was beautiful. I have been blessed to be a part of this wonderful community. Rest in peace sweet Tucky. You will be missed. Until we meet again.
Thank you, Shelly! It's been an amazing experience to be a part of this dog community for sure! Belly rubs to sweet Luna!! ❤️
This is a beautiful tribute to a wonderful dog and a great family and I'm proud to call them all friends. <3
Thanks so much for your kind words, Dorothy! Tucker made all of us friends for sure!! I'm sure I met you and Dudley because of Tucker! ❤️
That was the best tribute I think I’ve ever read. It describes perfectly about how Tucker made us feel. Portia was included in Tucker’s army and I was so excited. I told some of my friends and posted it on my Facebook page. I’m pretty sure that some of my friends were planning an intervention of some kind. Thank you for such a heartfelt tribute💜🌻💜
Thanks so much for your kind comments, Thomasina. I'm so glad you read my blog and liked it. I think that so many of us have had similar experiences when Tucker touched our lives! Rugby was over the moon to be included! Once you've experienced the magic of Corgi Nation that Tucker helped create, you get it. I'm sure outsiders DO think we need an intervention of some sort!! How funny!! 😆
I remember being new to FB and seeing Tuckers page. He had a way of drawing you in and with Vicki as his voice, made sure you were included. Tucker was Angels first friend, like so many others. But Angel was blessed beyond imagination because she became Tucker’s wife! Their wedding was a weeklong affair! From everyone getting ready to meeting the Queen on their honeymoon!! The adventures that followed were amazing!!! And I truly believe it is those adventures that will help us through our grief and remain treasured memories for a lifetime. And I am comforted by the thought that Tucky is with his beloved Angel and all their pals that went home to the Bridge before them. God Bless Tucker and God Bless Vicki for sharing him with us all and for using her talents through the years to bring us these wonderful vivid loving and caring memories that made us a family. Never forget that “Tucky Lubz”. And always...”Keep your face to the sun”!!!❤️❤️❤️❤️
Your story is like so many others, Margaret! Tucker was so inclusive and made us all feel like family! Those are things that we can carry forward to keep his memory alive! Thanks so much for reading and taking time to comment! ❤️
A perfect tribute to Tucker The Corgi Master. My heart stills hurts. Love, prayers and hugs to Vickie & Bert.❤️🐾🙏❤️
Thank you so much, Kristi! I'm so glad you liked my blog! ❤️
I love all doggies.....all because of my Marley; I didn't really know true love until he found me, but I now understand how deep that love truly goes. I have cried my heart out for Tucker, for his family, for the entire Corgi Nation, for all of the dog community, that I have honor to be apart of...for the last four days. I only wish I could have pet and loved on Tucker, hugged his Mama Vicki and Bert; I've never had the priviledge of meeting them... However... I mourn Tucker, because I've followed him, and all the adventures. I have had the honor to be apart of a community with so much love, and friendship. I have never had a Corgi love, but some day, Marley-willing... BOL! I feel this loss, as I'm sure SO many do. My heart hurts. I still cry. I have never met you, but I feel SO MUCH LOVE, and I feel your loss. I cry now too. I love you Tucky-lubs! You a part of my life too. Love you Mama Vicki and Bert!
-Sarah
I share your deep feelings, Sarah. I think so many of us were on the receiving end of Tucker's kindness and special Corgi magic. He was more than just a dog, and his loss has gone deep and wide for so many people! ❤️
Absolutely beautiful!!!!! Love Vicki and Bert and forever love Tucky!!
--Belinda
Thank you, Belinda! I'm so glad you read my blog and liked it! Thank you so much for taking time to comment! ❤️
Written with such Love, so touching how we so loved Tucker.
Thank you so much, Rita! I truly write from my heart, and those were the gifts that I felt were huge that Tucker gave to us all! I have yet to hear one person say anything except how much they loved Tucker, and that’s simply amazing! Thanks for reading my blog and taking time to comment! ❤️
Beautiful tribute...and beautifully written! <3 You expressed what we all felt in our hearts. Tucker touched so many lives and made this world a better place!!!
xoxo,
Fred and momma Deborah
Deborah, I’m pretty sure Tucker introduced Fred and Rugby! I’m so very glad I could give your feelings words and a way to express how you felt about Tucker. He truly was a gift to all of us, and I know Rugby and I are so much better for having had him as a friend! Thanks so much for reading my blog and for taking time to comment! Belly rubs to Fred! ❤️
OHMAHDAWG!! Momma, and I, have the major leaky eyes! Miss Sally, and Rugby, this is a most awesome pawsome tribute! Thank y'all for puttin' all our hearts into words!
Penelope, thanks to you and your momma for reading my blog and taking time to comment! I’m so glad I could give words to your feelings! If it makes you feel any better at all, my eyes leaked pretty good while I was writing it!! ❤️
What a wonderful tribute! Tucker made this family worldwide, no matter where you live or who you are, only the love what matters. I'm so proud to be a member of this family of wonderful people and wonderful doggers, corgis and honorary corgis. We are a family. And Duffy is a proud Squirrelminator. Thank you Tucker. Keep you in our hearts forever.
Andrea, thanks so much for your sweet comment! Of all people, you should really understand the worldwide inclusion! I remember being so shocked that Duffy wasn’t a little American Corgi because no one ever treated her any differently! That was Tucker’s doing I am just sure!! ❤️
What a wonderful tribute! Thanks to Tucky I'm a proud member of this worldwide family of wonderful people and wonderful doggers. And Duffy is a proud squirrelminator. We well keep you in our hearts forever, General.
Andrea, that’s such a beautiful comment! Wasn’t it fun getting Duffy’s Squirrelminator ID Card Fromm Tucker? Such a small thing that Vicki did for us from her perspective, but so huge in our hearts to make us feel included and wanted! Give sweet Duffy some belly rubs from Rugby and me! ❤️
What a beautiful, thoughtful and very true eulogy:tribute! I know of no man or beast that has ever been remembered in such a heartwarming, loving way! Tucker was all these things and more! As much as I know I will miss Tucky, I am comforted by knowing that Abygail, whom Tucker and Vicki did so much, are now together, finally having met at the bridge and they are no free to frap around, countersurf and chase squirrels all day, with no more pain or hardships. I believe that one day we will all join our four legged furbabies running and fromping in the green, green grass of Heaven ❤️🐾❤️🐾❤️ I will love and miss you always my friend. We will all be here to help mom and dad however we can, just keep on shining bright, right along side your bestie Reggie and my babygirl Abygail, I’m sure she was overjoyed to finally meet you snout to snout❤️
Hi Tonya-
Thanks so much for reading my blog and I’m so glad it touched your heart! Abygail was seen on adventures from time to time, and I remember how much the General loved her as well! I’m sure they are chasing squirrels and balls all day long!!❤️❤️