Charlie is in Doggy Heaven.

Charlie

Age 13, September 14, 1996 - December 02, 2009

Nickname: Chuck, Charles

Charlie was my litlle crazy guy for just over 13 years. He had lot's of personality and was a loyal loving companion. I miss him so much and it's only been a matter of hours since he is gone. Here's hoping he's chasing lot's of bunnies up in doggie heaven!

My Charlie was such a crazy dog, full of angst and full of way too much energy. He was a dog that many other owners would have just given up on and put down in his earlier years. However, for me Charlie was a challange, he was a one of a kind guy that required special attention. I think we were ment to be together. We both are ones that others just don't quite get. Charlie though was the most loving dog and was always concerned about my wherabouts and if I was OK.

I just never thought it would be so hard losing my crazy little guy. In the past year he struggled with Arthritis and the effects of Cushings disease. However in the past month we seamed to find the right balance of medication and Charlie was getting around like he hadn't in years. In fact this past Tuesday he was running around outside during the day while we worked on the yard. It was almost like he was having his final fling. Later that evening he started breathing strangly and his stomach appeared to be bulged. I tried calling his vet but they had closed for the night and the only option for assistance was an hour away. So I called and brought Charlie into this all night animal hospital in Grand Rapids that was the only place available within a 100 miles. The vet on duty took one look at him and said that Charlie was very sick and most likely suffering from a ruptured spleen and or tumor.

At 1:00am we wayed the options of just letting him go or to do surgery to remove the ruptured area and potentially have to do a transfusion due to blood lose. The vet said that even if the surgury were successful and there was not cancer, that he may only survive another 3-9 months. The cost of the surgury was estimated at just under $4,000. So we sat there for a time and pondered what to do. I just couldn't let him go without trying even thought it ment spending up to $4,000 that I could barely afford to part with. So I opted to have the surgury done and went in to see him before the vet started. We drove home and waited for a call on the outcome.

At about 4:30am the vet called and said that she had found about 3 pounds of mass inside of Charlie that had imploded and there was no part of his spleen left in tacked. The vet said that he had a huge tumor or mass on his spleen and it most likely just burst and then bled internally. She thought that she had gotten all the mass out, Charlie sewn back up and blood infused and that he was resting comfortable and that I probably could pick him up the next day. She said that the vet on the next shift would call later in the morning to update me. I went back to sleep thinking everything was ok for now and that we would see Charlie the next day. About 6am the phone rang again and it was the same vet in tears. She said that Charlie just stopped breathing and they tried to revive but that he had passed.

So my Charlie is gone and I miss him so much. So many tears over such a crazy dog. Rest in peace.