Charlie
Charlie came to the Coastal Humane Society shelter after his owner died.
The owner's brother surrendered him to us after a vet refused to
euthanize him. From the first moment I saw him, I was in love! In
front of me sat a nine-year-old one-eyed basset named Charlie.
Shortly after his arrival, I noticed Charlie was very depressed and he
wasn't eating much. At night when the lights went out and everyone left
the shelter for the day, Charlie would begin to bark and howl. I soon
began taking him home for overnight sleepovers. With my three other
dogs at home already, I had no idea how things would go. From the very
first night, everyone was eating together and sleeping as one big
cuddled ball without any big tiffs. Charlie had found his home.
Each morning I would bring him back to work and put him back in his
kennel. Charlie wanted no part of that and he soon began howling which
of course grabbed my attention. Before I knew it, Charlie had found
himself a nice comfy bed behind the front desk as I worked greeting
visitors and completing adoptions. He's got a comfy bed to snooze on
and an endless amount of treats and attention by everyone who visits our
shelter.
Having just one eye, Charlie uses this to his fullest advantage. If
he's too tired to get up and greet someone, he will roll over on his
side to encourage his latest admirer to rub his belly. Charlie insists
on having a blueberry donut from Dunkin Donuts every morning to start
the day off right and chicken nuggets for lunch every afternoon.
Everyone at work gives Charlie hugs and cookie after cookie. It's is
not longer I who hears a good morning from my fellow colleagues. It is
now "Good Morning, Charlie" or "We miss you so much when you're not
here,Charlie!"
At home, Charlie spends his evenings racing up and down two flights of
stairs. He then runs outside with his sister and younger brothers.
Before going in for the night, he has to make a special trip over to see
my grandmother who always greets him with a piece of cheese or bologna.
Charlie has been known to jump on top of the picnic table in front of
her picture window and sit and wait for his treat if she doesn't come
out fast enough.
Charlie had to have his eye removed due to glaucoma. He is presently on
medications for his other eye in hopes of fighting it off. He has been
seeing an eye specialist from Rhode Island every six months. She sees
him at no charge and sends him medication at no cost. Once she heard
about Charlie being surrendered to a shelter, she was ready to make an
extra trip to adopt him.
I'm Charlie's mom now. My colleagues call me "Wild Child" here on the
job. The true Wild Child is my Charlie for he keeps me young, upbeat,
and running after him! Charlie has his second chance at life; I have
my Prince Charles.
Everyone loves Charlie. I love Charlie. You will too. Come visit him
at the shelter. He'll be the one expecting a hug from you.
(Kristen, CHS Staff Member and Charlie's adopter.)
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