Charlie - (Tailends 23.12.05 – 01.05.08)

Charlie - Arrived at Tailends on December 23rd 2005.  He was a fawn and white greyhound who had lived his entire life in a bleak kennel in Scotland.  He had an appalling mouth with rotten teeth and infected gums.  He only had 3 teeth left after a dental but at least he was more comfortable and could eat well.  In fact he adored his food and would eat all day if he could. He has needed a little guidance to stop him bolting his food down too fast and making himself ill.  He could not cope with hard foods; chews etc. though he did manage the odd tripe stick even if it took him a long time to eat it.  

Charlie had arthritic hips and signs of nerve damage.  He had been savagely attacked at some stage in his past and was covered in scars.  Our vet said these wounds were never treated or stitched and some of them were obviously quite deep so he must have had quite a bad time and been in considerable pain.  He is not aggressive and is fine with other dogs both large and small so was obviously quite badly bullied during his past life. However he is a lively chap who bounced around in excitement as he was thrilled with living in a home at last and found it all overwhelming.  He underwent a little training to ensure he calmed down a little and did not pose a problem with our less active frailer dogs.   X-rays showed that he had disc degeneration and bulging in three areas of his spine.  He loved his walks but needed long periods of rest and also pain relief. Charlie was probably not the most intelligent dog in the world but was very eager to please.  He loved his walks on the beach each day and was soon allowed off lead.  This was very bewildering for him and he did not know how to run but pranced around in glee not quite knowing what to do.  It was obvious that he had had no chance to enjoy proper exercise or mental stimulation.  He loved to travel in the car when someone went to the veterinary hospital or the village. 

Charlie had no idea how to behave when he arrived but soon adjusted and was a loveable kind boy who had been sadly deprived and neglected during his kennel days, prior to arriving in Devon. 

Poor Charlie is very traumatised by his past life and is a very nervous highly-strung lad.  I think his mental state was due to the effect of years of boredom and neglect.  I had some success in calming him down and making him feel more relaxed - especially with other dogs.  Charlie enjoyed his walks and his home comforts.  He did need special care and was happier and more comfortable when he could stretch out on his big memory bed.

Charlie was very fond of Daisy May who arrived at Tailends on 6th May 2006.  She was obviously smitten with him and followed him around.  She would have liked to play with him but he lacked confidence and did not know how to play.  They both suffered with arthritis in the hips so had something in common.  He was in continual fear that another dog will attack him, though nobody here had ever shown any aggression towards him.  Charlie was a real worrier and had lots of imagined fears which needed to be allayed.

Charlie went to the beach every morning until April 18th when he became ill.  He loved affection and is very good with other dogs and people who he meets when out on his walks.  He needs lots of reassurance but was in no way an aggressive dog.

I think that Charlie probably suffered physically and mentally while in kennels.  He was obviously put with dogs who attacked him continually and the invisible scars remained.  However I did my best to make the old chap happy and he loved his home comforts and became very devoted to me. 

My big gentle "special needs" boy passed away from this world on May 1st at 3.30pm.  He started to suffer fits at the end of October 2007 and had recently been put on Epiphen, which initially seemed to keep him stable.  However the fits had recently become more frequent and Alison, our vet, thought they were likely to be caused by a brain tumour as he had not previously been an epileptic dog.  Since the series of fits on Friday April 18th, Charlie seemed to recover but was not enjoying his walks and became very slow.  During the night of April 30th he suffered another fit from which he did not recover but was left bewildered, restless and disturbed.  I gave him rectal diazepam and increased Epiphen but it had little effect.  Eventually I gave him a stronger sedative which did at last give him peace until the vet arrived.  I hope he heard me when I spoke to him as he left Tailends on his journey to another place.  I miss him very much.  It was so painful to say goodbye to this sweet character.  I know everyone who met Charlie will remember this poor disturbed lad who had suffered so much in his life.  We must try to remember the happy days he spent running on the beach and enjoying his life here at Tailends.  Sweet dreams Charlie boy.  I know the other friends which you made here and have gone before you will now be looking after you as I can no longer do.  We all love you and miss you.  Until we meet again...