Charley was born 19 years ago today on Tuesday, May 31, 2005 in Olympia, Washington. He would have been 19 years old today, but passed away August 4, 2021, a few months after his 16th birthday. He lived a long, happy, joyful life, experiencing new adventures daily and making friends wherever he went. He loved people, dogs, cats and other animals. He loved riding the subway in his travel bag and getting out at some unexplored destination — a park, store, or neighborhood — as much as returning to places he knew well. I miss him a little more every day and think of him throughout each day. I always stop for a moment at 7:06 pm, which is the time he went to sleep for the last time, and will never wake from. I’m glad I was able to have him in my life, making every day richer, happier and more fun than it would have been without him. I took these photos on May 29, 2008 — two days before Charley’s third birthday. Upper West Side Manhattan, NYC
Charley celebrates his second birthday on May 31, 2007. These were taken right after I shot his birthday portrait. Charley is leaning on a small table. This was a signal that he was ready for dinner. He came up with this all on his own. He would lean on this small table with his front legs and body on the table, with his back feet on the floor. He would do this until dinner was served. Upper West Side, Manhattan, NYC
Charley poses for his holiday portrait on December 13, 2006. This was Charley’s second Christmas and his first with a studio portrait. I took this picture of him and he was a very patient and cooperative model. He would stay still and didn’t mind my moving him for the best pose. He enjoyed the experience and the interaction of it. This was one of many studio portraits I took of him over the years. Upper West Side, Manhattan, NYC
The Santa toy in the photo appeared in every holiday studio portrait of Charley each year.
Charley died one year ago August 4, 2021 at 7:06 pm. He went to sleep for the last time and he never woke up again. He was an amazing, wonderful, handsome boy and I miss and still love him so much to this day. He spent his entire life going on many adventures with me. But this was one trip he took by himself. But I was with him for several hours before and after he left. I think of him throughout each day and remember all the wonderful adventures we had and all the new and old friends he met everywhere he went. I will get another dog when circumstances allow, but for now Charley goes with me everywhere I do in my memory of him. City Veterinary Care, Upper West Side, Manhattan, NYC
Charley became very sick two months ago, shortly after his birthday. One month ago, the doctors said that we had entered the hospice care phase of his illness. One week ago last Wednesday Charley had his kidney levels checked. They were terrible. He was no longer eating or drinking. A week ago last Tuesday, we learned he had a very serious eye injury requiring lengthy and unpleasant treatment. He had been doing ok, all things considered, until Tuesday a week ago. But the 24 hours after that were miserable for him. We (the vet and myself) put him to sleep around 7 pm Wednesday, August 4, 2021. I held him and he wasn’t scared as it happened. He went quickly and peacefully. I spent a very long time alone with him before and after. Some of his friends and family called and texted to wish him goodbye. It was about as good as something like that can be. He was very brave. I miss him so much. My beautiful boy.
Charley was diagnosed with kidney disease about three years ago and we managed his disease with a low-protein kidney diet. Typical life expectancy at the time of his diagnosis was about a year and we were lucky to have over three additional years together, instead of just one. Although he had been slowing down a bit in recent years and still having adventures, our walks were becoming a bit shorter and our adventures a bit less wide-ranging. He also had arthritis, which he took canine CBD for.
Not long after his most recent birthday, his kidney disease started catching up with him. He’d been gradually losing weight as part of the disease, which causes muscle loss. He then started losing a lot of weight more rapidly and having mobility issues — sometimes having trouble getting up or sometimes falling down.
Two months ago, he spent two nights at the hospital due to his kidney levels and rapid weight loss. Two days after getting out of the hospital he suffered a stroke, but recovered. The following day after his stroke, he had two seizures within an hour of one another (the second was pretty severe). After that, he began taking an anti-convulsant every 8 hours. He also took a blood thinner to reduce the likelihood of further strokes, and blood pressure medicine for his high blood pressure. He took an anti-nausea pill to counter the nausea from the kidney disease. And he took an appetite stimulant (Entyce), which is what really kept him eating.
One month ago, his vet said we were entering the hospice care phase of his illness. She estimated he probably had weeks remaining, not months, but more than days left.
I began doing everything I could to keep him eating, feeling comfortable and enjoying the remaining time we had. He’d been eating, drinking, peeing and pooping. He needed my help to walk and stand as his mobility had become increasingly limited. He eventually no longer had use of his back legs, but could hold himself up with his front legs. He got to the point where he needed my help to do everything, including eating, drinking, peeing and pooping. He could move his head and wiggle around a little as well as move his front legs back and forth a bit as he lay on his side, but was unable to get up or move from one place to another without help. I gave him 100ml subcutaneous fluids daily at home. And he made frequent trips to the vet for rechecks and to make sure he was doing ok and to address any issues that arose. He had bed sores that the vet wrapped with a bandage, which needed to be changed every few days. The sores were healing. He was anemic, but taking a weekly injection to get his red blood cells up into the normal range. He’d been seeing a group of doctors at the veterinarian practice that he’s been going to his entire life.
3 1/2 weeks ago, he was eating very little for a couple days but we switched foods and he began eating well again and he continued to eat well until the last day or so. His weight started to stabilize around that time and he did not lose too much more weight, aside from some further gradual weight loss. Regardless, he was emaciated (just under 8 pounds — half his healthy weight). Despite all this, he seemed mostly content given his severe limitations. He did still enjoy eating, being with me, he liked being touched, having his ears rubbed, getting a massage and being stroked and petted. Even though he could no longer walk, I would make sure to exercise his legs every day. He also enjoyed lying on my lap and and being sung to, where he would fall asleep.
When he needed something, he would “talk” or complain with a grumble or an occasional whispery bark if it was more urgent. That usually meant he needed to pee, or had peed or needed a drink of water or something similar. It was not always easy to tell what it was that he wanted and it could take a while to figure out what it was.
In the hospital, one of the technicians shaved the hair around Charley’s face, which I was not happy about, but it was slowly growing back. He had also been losing his hair, which was coming out in clumps when he visited the groomer. So he may look a bit different in some of his most recent pictures.
It was very difficult to see him deteriorate so quickly. But until the last 24 hours, he still enjoyed eating, resting, and interacting with people. He didn’t try to hide or avoid contact.
Charley treasured your friendship and appreciated all the likes, kind comments and the fact that he was able to meet so many of you in person — some from all over the world and some more than once.
Charley visits Mt. Hebron with Spike, September 25, 2005. Montclair, New Jersey
Charley visits Mt. Hebron cemetery with his “big brother” Spike to pay their respects to departed family members. In particular, they visit the gravesite of their human grandmother who had passed away just two years prior. She was very close to Spike, who was her dog, and he came to live with me after she passed away. This trip reunited them and was the first (and last) time Charley “met” her. Three days after this visit, Spike himself passed away at age 17.
Charley during his first two weeks at his new home in New York City, August 16 – 24, 2005. Upper West Side, Manhattan, NYC
Individual photo captions:
Charley has a wet chin after a drink of water during supervised playtime outside of his exercise pen, August 24, 2005
Charley is curious, August 24, 2005
Charley sits on Spike’s red pillow, August 24, 2005
Charley plays with his tug toy, August 24, 2005
Charley pays attention, August 18, 2005
Charley watches the camera flash, August 18, 2005
Charley has a red nose, August 18, 2005
Charley rests on a blue heart-shaped pillow that has a device that mimics the rhythm of a “beating heart” for comfort. To his right is a purple towel that has his siblings' scent — so he doesn't feel so lonely being apart from them, August 16, 2005
Charley’s exercise pen has his crate, wee wee pad, water bowl, food dish, and some toys. Except for walks and supervised playtime, he spends most of his time in here while he is being housetrained, August 16, 2005 (Adapted from the excellent book Before and After Getting Your Puppy by Dr. Ian Dunbar)
Charley’s ashes came in a nice wooden box with a built-in photo frame, metal name plate, certificate of cremation, and a sympathy card, all in a burlap canvas carrying bag. East Flatbush, Brooklyn, NYC
