You image needs to be Square!
Please crop your image below, then save using the green button, or cancel using the red X
Charlie’s favorite thing for the last 2 or 3 years of his life was walking down the street to John & Liz’s house, where he would hope to find them outside, or if not, looking out the window, and they would come out and give him giant cookies or dentastix. Often enough we would actually run down the street together, him way ahead, me trailing behind with the leash in my hand, trying to keep up with him.
He would also get berries every morning, when I would prepare my own breakfast and scoop out 1/2C frozen berries into my oatmeal bowl, I would scoop a few into his bowl as well, and say to him “Is it time for your berries now, are you having your berries?”
Charlie and I walked a lot, especially after I graduated from my degree, and had no further full-time occupation. 365 days/year, we would be out three times a day. I live in Canada, and winters see many many days of -25 degrees Celcius, with blowing snow. I would shovel paths around the house and many years the snow was so high it was a maze for him, the banks higher than his head could see. Of course, with the Husky and Malamute in him, he was not bothered by this weather at all.
For a few years, on my birthday, I would pack him and all his ‘stuff’ into the car, and we would go out and spend a weekend at my mom’s house, a little vacation, and soemtimes take him to a nature park for an extra long hike in different territory, to see and smell new places.
My last and strongest memory is of Charlie lying on the sofa or on a big chair, and me sitting on the floor, face to face, and I would say to him, “without you I would be alone in the world”, and look into his eyes. He knew he was very loved.
Charlie changed a great deal over the six and a half years he was with me. The rescue organization from which I adopted him did a very clever thing – on their website, they wrote stories as if from a first person point of view, imagining what the animal might say (think of dating websites). His name at the organization was Chunky because he was so fat. His blurb said something to the effect “why doesn’t anyone want me? I’ve been here for months and months, and I see the little dogs and the young dogs come and then go within a few weeks. Will I still be here at Christmas?” Having only had golden retreivers as an adult, and labrador retreivers as a child, he was a departure from my usual, and I was a bit hesitant about such a heavy dog (110 pounds). But seeing those words broke my heart, and I decided he was the one for me.
Initially he was a bit wild, trying to escape my property, and until I could put up proper fencing I had to be very careful. Walking around the nieghborhood, there was unease when other dogs passed. I’m not entirely sure what proprtion was from him and what from me. Eventually we both became more comfortable, and certainly for the last 3 years of his life, he was very easy going with everyone, people and dogs alike, easy to walk, easy to live with.
Thankfully, the instances of me getting angry at him only lasted for the first ~2 years. For most of his time with me, there was only ever gentleness and happiness between us. I would tell him often how wanted and needed he was, how valued and loved. Throughout the years he was with me, things in my own life began to fall apart. One by one, all the good solid positive elements of my life fell away. Sometimes there is a cascade effect, each trauma, each loss creates a situation where another bad thing is increasingly likely to happen. Charlie was that last support, keeping me going when all else was lost. He is sorely missed.
In 2019, I saved Charlie. In 2025, Charlie saved me. I am here because I made a promise to see him through, and give him the best life and the best death possible, and I kept my promise to him. I owe him my life.
Exclusive Members-Only Webinar:
A conversation on the human face of shelter and rescue work with Dillon Dodson
Join us for this exciting event
We are delighted to invite you to an exclusive members-only webinar featuring Dillon Dodson, veterinary social worker, Director of Social Work at the Toronto Humane Society, and Vice President of our partner organization, the International Association of Veterinary Social Work. This special event is designed to shine a light on the human side of animal welfare work in rescues and shelters.
Event Details
Date: Thursday, October 30th, 2025
Time: 7:00-8:00 PM, ET
Platform: Zoom (registration required)
Join the Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement today and create a special online memorial for your pet. Enjoy 20% off a Silver or Platinum membership— offer ends September 7.
In honor of Rainbow Bridge Memorial Day (August 28), we are offering a 20% discount on Silver and Platinum memberships throughout the entire month of August. By joining us, you will have the unique opportunity to create a lasting online memorial for your pet, complete with photos and stories you can cherish.
This year the Association of Pet Loss & Bereavement (APLB) is participating in Giving Tuesday, December 3rd. Giving Tuesday is a global generosity movement, unleashing the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and the world.
Please give generously. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of those grieving the loss of their cherished pets.
This year the Association of Pet Loss & Bereavement (APLB) is participating in Giving Tuesday, on December 3rd. Giving Tuesday is a global generosity movement, unleashing the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and the world.
Please give generously. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of those grieving the loss of their cherished pets.
