Today I said goodbye to a friend and loyal companion, my Charlie. Charlie was our family dog for 9 years. He was a beautiful tri-coloured Sheltie. He had the cutest face and beautiful brown eyes that always showed warmth to whomever he met. My daughter, Rebecca and I first saw Charlie in a pet store window at the Hyperdome. We weren’t looking to buy a dog, but when we saw him and his brother in the window we were smitten. We came back to the store three times that day to get another look and we asked if we could have a hold which we did, from that first hold, Charlie’s future was decided in our hearts, we just had to try and convince Dad he belonged in our home. This was no easy task as anyone who knows Roderick would attest to. Well we didn’t actually ask Roderick, but just sort of hinted at a beautiful dog we saw at the pet store and then showed him pictures on the internet of what he looked like and about the breed. We discovered Shelties were a gentle, quiet breed of dog. Roderick is now wiser that a hint then leads to action and the next day, Bec and I went back to the pet store and because Charlie was still there, we saw that as a sign that he was meant to be ours. So we brought him home and then tried to hide him in the garage when Dad came home. Our cover was soon blown by Charlie whimpering in the garage, to which Dad said “What is that”? and then “What have you done”? Oh dear, we were in trouble now and from this moment, I think Charlie knew that if he were to stay, we would have to appeal to Dad’s mercy and he learnt real fast that Dad held the position of Top Dog in the house and our cat, Microsoft was definitely higher on the food chain too. Welcome Charlie……
Lucky for us and Charlie, he was just happy to be part of a family. He attached himself to Bec, much to Microsoft’s disapproval. He would follow Bec wherever she went. He was the cutest puppy, he had floppy ears and was a ball of fluff. He was always happy. He loved walks and just the mention of a walk would have him talking to you in excitement. This was particularly evident when I would walk him to the school bus stop and wait for Bec in the afternoon, he would be talking the whole way in excitement to seeing Bec. His tail would be going and he was almost doing somersaults as the bus came into view. He greeted her with such enthusiasm that Bec would almost be baled over as she would pick him up and we would walk home. I have some fun photos of Bec riding her bike with one arm holding Charlie and his tail wagging in the breeze. Other photos we have are of Bec lying on the lounge with the cat at one end and Charlie on the other.
David spent much of the first year in the States, but upon his return, he was showered with the same love and attention from Charlie. Neither Bec nor David ever came home to an empty house once we had Charlie and it made a big difference to their lives to be greeted with such great love and affection on arriving home from school or work. David would often take Charlie for a run, he would ride his bike and Charlie would run beside him always trying to be in front. That was Charlie’s position to be out in front for any walks, he would literally cry when David would ride past on his bike. I know that this is not a dog’s place and Roderick would try to teach him to heel, but he just loved being out in front, that it was hard to resist his excitement to take the lead.
When Amanda moved in last year prior to their wedding, Charlie became her shadow. Together they would go for walks to do a letterbox drop of her leaflets. They spent most days together and Charlie would sleep outside her door at night as her protector. He missed Manda when she moved out after the wedding, but enjoyed her regular visits and walks. I am most grateful that Charlie’s last month was with David and Manda. I know how much he would have loved having company each day, and being showered with much love and many cuddles from Manda.
Charlie was our first welcome to guests, he would do a little bark, just because I think he thought it was part of his job description, but once inside the door, it was time to pour out a warm welcome to anyone who dropped by. He did try to be a guard dog when we were not a home, but he had limitations to his bravery, as Roderick’s Dad once found out. He and Clevey dropped by to see us, but we weren’t home, so Charlie started his barking routine for strangers. The problem was this ‘stranger’ came through the side gate, this put Charlie in a panic and he ran away to hide. Louis was calling out to Charlie but he was too scared to move from his hiding place behind the hot water system. Louis eventually found him there trembling in fear. They were later to become good mates after a few overnight visits to the Sunshine Coast for weekends. Charlie loved to visit them and go for morning walks down to the beach. He hated water and the ocean, but loved a walk along their quiet beach. Charlie did object though to Louis going out in socks and sandals and would literally howl at Louis as he headed out for a night at the club. Charlie had his own fashion sense and tried to tell Grandpa that his just wasn’t up to scratch.
Charlie taught us all a lot of life lessons. We learnt from Charlie, the meaning of unconditional love, loyalty and faithfulness. He never had a ‘bad day’ and even if he did, we would never know. He would spend all day on his own, but waiting for the sound of the garage door, or the front door to open and then be there to greet us with wags and excitement. It is a precious gift to be loved this much. Charlie would never leave my side, he would follow me from room to room and be always sitting at my feet or within sight of me. He could be fast asleep and hear me get up and as loyal as ever he would be up to follow me. Whenever I was home alone or Roderick was away, Charlie always took it upon himself to be number one protector and was on heightened alert. It was a huge comfort to me to have his presence nearby. It somehow made me braver, and certainly helped me to sleep, having Charlie by my side.
Charlie could instinctively know your mood; he could sense if you had had a particularly difficult day, especially to me, he would come close for a pat and then get his front paw to say “more pats Mummy”. There is something very therapeutic about stroking a dog after a difficult day at work. Charlie greeted me with life¸ and I will dearly miss his afternoon presence when I come home from work. I will miss talking to him and having his little face look at me with understanding. I will miss peeling carrots and having him look at me with begging eyes and a hungry appetite for his favourite treat, carrot peel. Charlie always was motivated by food, he loved food and it was hard to resist his begging look. I think Charlie found it hard to figure out why , when we had such access to food, we didn’t scoff it at the same pace he could. He would literally scoff his food down so fast, that we think he forgot that he had actually eaten his dinner. He especially had this look when we would put some nibbles out when the kids were over and he was just watching us leisurely eat the food, he would have had it all gone in a minute if he had the chance.
We loved our Charlie and Charlie loved us. It was with great sadness we learnt a few weeks ago that Charlie had Cushings disease, and likely tumours. In the time we were in the States, these lumps grew and became many. I had noticed a big deterioration on returning and as the week went by, I could see that Charlie was suffering, but still he wanted to be my shadow and get up each time I did, even though it caused him pain. It was heartbreaking. Charlie always knew when we were going on holidays, and he hated the sound of the suitcase wheels down the hall to our bedroom. He knew it meant separation and that is what he would react to, by becoming very clingy and sticking even closer and his eyes would get sad. Today, I have an understanding of how sad he felt when we were gone. Yet somehow, Charlie hung on for our return. We spent one last precious week together. Lots of cuddles, pats and “I love you”, and he would respond with his little paw asking for more. I somehow think he knew his time was short, too. In the last 24 hours he was surrounded by his family, he was loved and he enjoyed a last walk around the lake with Manda and us. He talked all the way in the car as we headed to our walk. Bec came over and along with David, Manda, Roderick and I we stayed with him till he was sleeping and would awake no more. Charlie died listening to my voice telling him how much his Mummy loved him. Leaving him that day reminded me of how hard it was to leave the hospital without Peter many years ago. You are leaving someone so very precious behind. It is gut wrenching and the hardest thing to do is let go. Charlie is at peace, but we grieve with broken hearts. My prayer is that God has a little puppy, just like Charlie in heaven for Peter to enjoy the same way we got to enjoy our Charlie. This thought and hope brings me a smile.
To my Charlie, “Thank you for 9 wonderful years. You were a good boy, and Mummy will always love you. You were our favourite dog and cannot be replaced. Thank you for loving us and teaching us unconditional love. You have brightened and enriched our lives and we are better people for knowing you and having you a part of our family. We will always remember you and will talk about you often. I will never peel another carrot without thinking of you, my sweet Charlie.”
Woof.
