Dogs are the most popular pets there can be. Most people like dogs a lot. They can be good friends, they take great care of their owners, they protect the house from unwanted prisoners or activities and there are a lot of fun activities you can do with them for passing your time and just be happy.
I pity those guys who never have had a dog as a pet their whole lives. My name is Sophie and younger people call me Aunt Sophie. I love dogs and I always wanted a pet for me so that I can spend some quality time with someone so caring that you won’t be scared of getting judged for just being yourself. I could never have one. But in this part of my life, I had gone all alone after the death of my husband who died in an airplane crash returning from his mission.
He used to work for army. I needed someone badly after his death. Everyone wants someone to be there with them and always by their side who can get them and their thoughts at that age of life where you can do nothing except just living life. Even when I wanted all of this, I hadn’t got a pet all these years specially after the death of my husband. Because life had become slow paced and I had been following the same routine over and over again being alone and having no one else.
I would just go to buy groceries, make food, eat and just be at home for whole day. Some days I would get things for myself for any occasion but I didn’t have enough money to get fancy things or buy myself a pet as I had been living on the pension if my husband which wasn’t a hefty amount. But I would sometimes save some money and get a thing or two. One of such day was when I was going to get that vase I have saved for a few months. I was very happy.
Encounter with the poor little soul
As I was walking on the road with the help of my stick that day, I saw a small cute dog on the side of the street sitting in the corner. I thought I would get something to eat for it as I go get my vase. Suddenly out of nowhere, two guys appeared who snatched my purse and tried to run away. I tried to stop them as much as I could but being an old lady, I only had a bit of it.
They pushed me and my walking stick fell down. As they tried to run, the dog watching all this got up abruptly and started running towards them, grabbed them with his jaws and started barking. Seeing the response, the guys were startled and got scared. People nearby started to gather around and due to which they tried to leave but people caught them and didn’t let them run away.
The dog came to me and gave me my purse I was really happy to have gotten it back. People that had gathered around asked me what was the matter. I told them about my favorite vase I was going to get and how that dog saved me and got those guys caught. Then I let the people deal with those guys and went to the dog. I sat down and touched him with love and he was so happy to have received a loving touch.
It felt as if he bad been lonely or sad for ages. I wanted to return the favor he had done for me. I started going there for him every day and I would give him a piece of meat which I would buy just for him with my money. I wanted to have him as my pet but then I started thinking whether I should do that. He would always be there waiting for me. Then I stopped going thinking maybe I shouldn’t. Then I realized I can’t live without him. He had become a necessary part of my life.
My first pet Charlie
Finally I went back to him one day, picked him up and took him with me to my house. I was really excited. Finally I had gotten myself my first pet. He was so furry and beautiful but had been dirty due to the trials and tribulations people had cast upon him. I got really sad seeing his poor condition. I took him to my room and brought my safety kit and started putting medicine on his scars and wounds. It was really cold outside so I put on the fire and got milk and the piece of meat for him which was his favorite.
I thought of giving him a name. So I started thinking what should I call him. The name that came first stuck to me and it was Charlie. I wanted him to rest and let his injuries heal so I left him alone after that in the moderate temperature caused by the fire. Whereas, I was then thinking of what to do next for him.
Changing Charlie’s look
I knew I had to do a lot of research. Although I know he liked meat but I had go research his type and what’s the likes and dislikes. But first thing in the morning as I woke up, I gave him meat for breakfast and took him to the pet hospital where I told the doctor about his situation and they started to treat his wounds and got his bandages done. I got to know from the doctor about the breed of Charlie. He was a Bitchon Frise. I was told I can get it bathed.
In fact, I should be bathing him once a month with occasional emergency baths when the dog is really dirty. And with Bitchon's sensitive skin, it’s important to keep your dog clean and healthy. I was really happy with the knowledge I had got from the doctor. He also told me that I should provide him with whole grains such as barley, quinoa or brown rice.
He also asked me to look for foods that contain vegetable and fish oils as healthy sources of fat and Omega-3 fatty acids. After that I took leave from the doctor and took Charlie to the dog’s salon. I wanted to bath him myself but I wanted his first time to be special. And as I had never gotten that favorite vase I wanted, I had the money. There were a lot of puppies and dogs there looking all cute and taken care of. Whereas my Charlie was looking all dirty. I was so sad for his sufferings he had before but at the same time I was so happy for him being able to get what he should have before.
They took great care of him, bathed him well, groomed his hair and made possible changes to make it look as good as possible. After he came from his makeover it was almost difficult to identify him from what he was before. Now he was looking the most beautiful and cutest dog in the room. He was looking the purest form of white possible and his silky hair looking more shiny and beautiful than ever. Everyone there was giving us looks and it was definitely because of Charlie. Everyone in the room wanted one like him. Some even mentioned it to me. Finally we went back home and we were both quite happy. In fact, Charlie looked quite happy after a long time. I was happy to see him happy finally.
A new routine with Charlie
I would daily get up in the morning to the sight of Charlie waiting for me. Then I would make him breakfast and we both would have breakfast. Then I would take him to the park. Where he would get so happy and playful. He would run around and very easily he found friends in the park and got used to it. I would get so happy watching him play with other dogs like him. It was a good routine and we both were finally happy. I would take great care of me and he had gotten me things to do that would make me happy and I would be busy after long.
And I wouldn’t get tired because this is what I wanted to do. Now, I wasn’t alone. I had gotten a partner who helped me being a happy individual. This was very interesting phase of my life as well. He had also gotten someone to take care of him and love him. We would cuddle together, play as much as we could. I mostly couldn’t catch up with his speed an agility due to my age but I would still do my best.
With his playful nature, he quickly adapted. He was a little bit shy at the start but now he had gotten over it and he would play so much and ask me for food sometimes by shaking his head. Or even get into the bed whenever he wanted to. I never mind it. I gave him all my love he wanted. And he gave me his love and the end to loneliness I wanted.
Meeting with someone special
One day, when we went to park, I saw Charlie bark to some dogs one of his age and one bigger than him. I sensed something strange. Charlie looked really sad. It felt as if he was crying. It looked as if he was talking to them. After looking properly, I realized, the dogs were of the same breed as Charlie. It came to my mind that it might be Charlie’s family. I let them have their time.
As we went home that day, Charlie looked really sad. I got really sad seeing him like that. I promised myself to take him at exactly the same time daily so that if they were his family, he can meet them daily. As the days passed by and as he would daily get to meet his family, he started getting happier and he became even more close to me.
We were both having the time of our lives. But there was still something missing. I started feeling old and it was getting tougher for me to cope up with his playfulness. I was actually thinking of getting him a new friend that he could play with all day long that could be as playful as him.
Charlie’s illness
One day, I felt a change in Charlie’s behavior. He looked pale and he wasn’t his usual playful self at all. I got really worried. I got scared for his life. I had never faced such an issue before as he hadn’t gotten ill before and I had never had pets before so I was really worried. I took him to the doctor at once. The doctor saw him and got him checked. He told me about his illness and got me medicine for him.
As I didn’t know much about medical terms I didn’t understand his diseases but I made sure I understood about the medicines. I kept giving him medicines at time until he got better. Those were really sad days for me as he wouldn’t move much and wasn’t playful at all. It felt as the house had gotten quite again but I took great care of him again and he started to get better. After months of care he got back to his usual self.
Charlie’s new friend Lucy
Finally I had saved enough and Charlie had gotten normal, it was the right time for me to get him a new friend he could spend time with who had the same energy level as him. I took him with me to the pet's shop and got a bitch for him. At first, he was surprised to see her. And it took time for them to be friends. At the start, he wouldn’t get so close to her and chose to stay more with me. But after some time, he started getting used to her presence.
New family
I felt like I had got a whole family with me. I would wake up to both of them playing together. Then I would provide them food. They would both happily finish their food and be their usual playful selves which I would enjoy. At this point od my life, I would choose to watch them play instead of myself playing with them.
At that age, it had become really difficult. Due to which I would watch them and would just sit on my bed and read books sometimes. Watching them would make me so happy. I just want to die in peace one day watching them have fun.
Charlie’s Death
Like normal days, this day I woke up to the sight of Charlie and Lucy but this time Charlie was looking tired and sad. It came close to me. I thought it was a signal to take him to the park.
I got up , got his breakfast ready and fed them both the food. Then we went to park together all together. I felt something strange as Charlie wasn’t playing much whereas Lucy was quite active.
After the whole day sitting in park, I took them back home. And as usual, I was reading my book when I heard Lucy’s bark. I got up to see what was wrong and I was shocked to see the sight which was in front of me. Charlie was laying flat on the floor motionless.
I lost control of my senses as I tried to think of what was happening. I got scared but I called the doctor as soon as I could. I some how knew from the inside that what had happened but I didn’t want to believe it was true and that Charlie had actually left me. The doctor came and checked him. He confirmed my worst fear that Charlie was no more. It left me in tears. I had never thought I would have to see this in my life and that my baby Charlie would leave me alone before my death.
In the loving memory of Charlie
Charlie was a very brave dog. He always preferred his owner’s happiness over his own joy. Let’s take a moment to appreciate his goodness and let’s pray for him and offer our condolences. It’s been and year since we lost him but he will always be alive in our memories. May his soul rest in peace.
