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Updated: Dec 11th, 2008 - 09:24:54 |
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| charlie |
Hello again, dear readers! When my mom told me that this issue was all about canine heroes, I did a happy wiggle of joy! There are so many valiant, heroic canines in the world; search and rescue dogs, K-9 Unit dogs, family pets who save their humans from fire or other disaster, service dogs who bring comfort and hope to the elderly, autistic or otherwise distressed…the list is epic! It’s important to honor and give our appreciation to each and every one. But I’m just one small hound, and this is but one small column. Who should I write about? So in an effort to narrow it down, I thought of what it means to me to be a hero.
True, a hero does brave and noble acts. But these acts aren’t always “newsworthy.” Sometimes the most heroic deed is done quietly, discreetly, and without any pomp. The hero is the one who enters your life unobtrusively, touches your heart deeply, and then gently moves on. For me, that hero was Charleston.
Charleston (or Charlie to his buds) was a very special soul. Like many of the finest, his time on this side of the Rainbow Bridge was brief and yet his impact was profound. He came from humble beginnings, just another homeless pup at the Humane Society in search of a family to call his own. But when my mom’s friend Sarah met him, it was love at first sight. He immediately walked up to her, put his chocolate head on her lap, and there he stayed. Sarah is the owner of Doggie Academy in NYC (www.doggieacademy.com) and it was up to Charlie to become the model dog to help her demonstrate proper canine training. And Charlie was a consummate pro! He took on any challenge with panache and sincerity, even becoming a Certified Therapy Dog with the Good Dog Foundation in New York. He was a prime example of what any dog can accomplish when it’s trained properly and given the tools to live up to its potential. So solid was his demeanor and skill that Charlie posed in many catalogues and was even featured as a “doggie extra” on Law and Order! Still, the fame didn’t go to his head. He was happiest at home, with his big head in his human’s lap.
Sure, Charlie accomplished a lot of great things and had received acclaim. In fact, I was kind of jealous that I didn’t get to be on TeeVee (not that I will even sit on command). But it was his loyalty and humility that made him a hero in my eyes. He wasn’t a braggart. No matter what Charlie was doing, you knew it was in an effort to please Sarah and receive a word of praise as his reward. (Of course, the treats are tasty too!) That kind of loyalty can’t be taught with a hot dog and it can’t be bought with hours of training. It’s a gift that comes straight from the heart and with a heart as big as Charlie’s, that’s one substantial gift!
Charlie was only five years old when he developed Fibrosarcoma in the form of an inoperable tumor on his jaw. It seemed unfair that such a vibrant, young pooch would be afflicted with such a terrible disease. But rather than concentrating on the abject unfairness of the situation, Sarah and her boyfriend Vinny used every precious day to create lasting, special memories of Charlie and to make his final days as fun, comfortable and fulfilling as possible. For the five years of gifts he had bestowed upon them, this was their gift to him; to appreciate every second they had left. And, oh man! The fun things they did! Trips to the beach, feasts of ricotta and feta cheese washed down with sips of beer, and constant outings to the dog parks. And then the ultimate; Sarah and Vinny had 600 pounds of crushed ice delivered to their yard in June so that Charleston could romp in the “snow” one last time – his absolute favorite activity in the world. They honored him by giving him all their love and attention, just as he had done for the past five years.
Charleston passed away on June 28th of this year, with his head on Sarah’s lap just as it was on that first fateful day. It was a bittersweet ending to a very sweet life. He left behind a legacy of love, loyalty and devotion that will last a lifetime. And to me, he was an inspiration. He showed me that it doesn’t matter how long you have here with your humans; if you love completely and live each day to its fullest your memory will live forever. Never waste a day, appreciate what you have and your rewards will always exceed a hot dog. To me, being able to do that is truly heroic.
So to Charlie and to all canine heroes out there, thank you. Thank you for inspiring the rest of us, both human and canine alike.
To see a video of Charleston enjoying his “Snow in June”, go to:
http://doggieacademy.blogspot.com/2008/06/snow-in-june.html
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