Thursday, June 9, 2011

Charlie and Daisy are gone


I am writing this before Charlie and Daisy are gone, because I don't know when I'll be able write after they're gone. On Thursday June 9th at 12 noon Daisy and Charlie both were let go at the same time.

Charlie has been in a lot of pain for quite awhile - he's had arthritis, and every time he has gotten up I've wondered if it's the last time he was going to be able to get up. In the last few days Daisy's condition has deteriorated rapidly - she's almost completely lost the ability to walk and she's not wanting to eat, so she's ready to go - and I know that Charlie would have been lost without her - so I'm letting him go at the same time as her.


It has been such a blessing to have Charlie for the last 12 years, and to have had him long enough so that he has died of old age. There's not too many dogs who live with one person their whole life and go out the way he has.

I don't know if it makes his death easier. It makes it less tragic - he had a good, long life
He met a ton of dogs, he and I were so blessed to come into contact with almost all his brothers and sisters, and we even got to live with a couple of them - this was Philip, who later became Brodie.

And then there was Leonard who was the first love of Charlie's life - who I got with my husband when Leonard was 6 week's old, and led me to get Charlie from the SPCA when he was 3 months old. Leonard just died a couple months ago as well.

But I'd have to say that the major love in Charlie's life was Daisy. As soon as I got her in December 2003 it was love at first sight. For all of us.
Who wouldn't love the pure joy that Daisy gave us from the moment she came into our lives. Everyone who met her said how beautiful she was, that she was a special dog. She was a rottweiller with a gift.

It is a shame that rottweillers don't live to be old - when I said that she was 10 - and she really maybe almost made it to 11, everyone said that was rare - rottweillers don't get to be that old. And in the end, it has been hard for her - her back legs have stopped working, she has a couple of pretty large tumours, and she is ready to go.
We have all had such a fabulous life together these past almost 9 years.
This blog, and these 1,927 posts pays testament to that. It has all been played out here, literally. And I am so lucky for that - I can go back and live it all in here - there's not too many dogs who's lives have been so intimately documented as Charlie and Daisy's and Buttercups.
For each of the 10 or so photos in this blog post, I probably have at least 2,000 other pictures exactly like it, only slightly blurry and a bit shittier since I'm a shitty photographer, but they at least captured moments in the last 12 years, and I'm happy I did it now.
I know I've got to live through this somehow, and I am so glad that Buttercup is still here with me and she's still healthy. I am SO grateful for that.
Charlie were such good dogs. I don't know what I'm going to do without them

8 comments:

  1. Oh Joan. What a sad day for you. You have done the right thing. They are out of pain but I am sure you ache inside so very much.

    What a wonderful, loving home you gave them.

    I hope that one day you will be able to open your heart to another dog. There are so many out there, just waiting.

    But for now. Have a good cry, make a cup of tea and leaf through those shitty old photos.

    Consider yourself hugged.

    Sybil

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  2. I'm so sorry that Charlie & Daisy are gone!
    So sorry for your loss!

    Loved all the pictures!

    Margie :(

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  3. Oh no, I am SO sorry :(

    No matter how long they live, it is NEVER long enough :(

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  4. My deepest, deepest condolences to you Joan. It's hard enough to say goodbye to one; I cannot imagine the strength it would have taken for 2.

    You're in my thoughts.

    Lisa

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  5. Anonymous6:36 PM

    So sorry to hear Joan! RIP Daisy and Charlie! :(
    Carla

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  6. Anonymous6:45 PM

    U and your blog, your love of all dogs, and how this blog has inspired and changed lives for the better.

    (((((Run fast and run free Charlie & Daisy)))))))

    (((((((Joan my sincere sympathy)))))))

    Jeannie

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  7. OMG...I'm *so* sorry!!! =( I know this must be so incredibly hard. Losing a dog never gets easier, no matter how many dogs anyone's had. And to lose two such beautiful and wonderful dogs at the same time is so heart wrenching. *hug*

    I know it might not feel like comfort, but at least they both are now free of pain. And I'm sure they love and appreciate all you've done to fill their lives up with joy and happiness. And knowing that they filled up your life with joy and happiness is what made their time with you so special, because that's just the way dogs are. They try to make us happy and are contented when they succeed.

    My deepest sympathy.

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  8. Anonymous11:03 PM

    Joan, I am so very very sorry to hear of your loss. Please know that Daisy and Charlie were blessed to have known what pure happiness and joy were because of you.They lived the lives that they deserved because of you. And because they can't say the words...Thank You. Thank You for being a true example of what being a responsible, loving human being is.
    Tracy

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