Charlie The Dachshund

Well readers this is the story of Charlie the dachshund, who was a good friend to me & the family for many years.

We first met at Manchester dogs home, it was not long after our last dog Katie had died, so of course we were looking for another dog of a collie type or similar ideally the dog would be a female because they seemed so much better than the males.

The dogs at the home were in runs in pairs, mainly barking as people approached, but round the corner was a small dog, just sat quietly as though waiting for someone to come and collect him, we have not realise at the time that he was a male because he had such an endearing face.

I went off to get a member of staff and explained we wanted to see what the dog was like on a lead, well a lead was found so he was tried in the yard and he seemed so happy and friendly that the decision was taken to choose him.

We sorted out the paperwork and took him off to the car where he settled straight away, on the way home we collected all the necessary things that we just disposed of from our last dog, while he is just sat patiently not making a noise.

One of the big things about Charlie was that he was never a yapping dog, he would bark if someone came to the door, but generally made no noise and was happy just to be in company, I always felt that he was in fact a show dog who had got lost, because he seemed so used to being on his own, as well is enjoying being round other people and dogs, also he was used to being bathed and dried, waiting patiently while this was carried out.

He always enjoyed going for a walk whoever it was with, and did not mind other dogs cats or people that we met on the way, in the house he coexisted with a variety of cats of all shapes and temperaments, just quietly going about his own business, so long as you did not go near his food.

When we went to the vets he always seemed to enjoy going there as well, enjoying the meeting with other dogs and cats until the time he had to go to be castrated, ever after that as soon as we went anywhere near the vets he would attempt to run off in the opposite direction, but having a lovely temperament that he had he was easily coaxed back inside.

When it was time to go for a walk he would come and look at me with those lovely big eyes, so could I ever deny him, of course not and I shared many thoughts with him over the years which luckily for me he never chose to tell anybody else about, patiently waiting whilst I chatted to other dog owners who I met along the way.

This continued for many years and he was a lovely companion, but sadly as he got older he is back started to create problems, strangely enough as mine is now doing, and he started to have other medical problems linked to this and he started to slow down.

Sadly in the end the day came when he could no longer walk and because it had been agreed in the past, that if ever he reached this point the kindest thing to do would be to put him to sleep, this was what we did, I still miss Charlie for its lovely nature and gentleness as well as his patience, I don't know if ever I will have another dog, but if I do I would hope for another one such as him or his predecessor Katie.