Justice for Charlie

On June 11th My wife was outside in our front yard gardening. Our beloved JRT 'Charlie' was sunning himself near her. The neighbor's stepmother came to the house next door and the sons of the neighbor opened the door letting out their two Pit Bulls. The dogs seeing my wife and dogs charged toward her and made their move pushing the wire fence at the bottom getting partially into my yard and grabbing Charlie by his head and pulling him through. The Second dog worked his way around back and pushed as the other pulled. This resulted in the scalping of Charlie's back from shoulder to behind. Chalie managed to escape long enough for the neighbor boys to call off their Pit Bulls but the damage had been done. We rushed Charlie to the Veternarian, who managed to save Charlie that day. He managed through prayers and good mojo to survive long enough to come home on Thursday evening, but in a very weakened state. We got him for a few days and he seemed to be trying really hard. His little tail would wag, and he'd give kisses. But he spent all his time in one spot. Moving was difficult.  On Sunday Night we could see the back just wasn't healing (note opening on side of Charlie's left side. in collar pic) so Monday Morning we called the vet to see if she would take another look at the opening. We brought Charlie in and he was smiling and tail wagging. He loved to 'flirt' with the Vet clinic staff. The Vet asked if she could keep Charlie for an hour or two to get an expert in deep wound openings to give an opinion.  Of course, we said yes and an aid walked Charlie out of our waiting room. The last time I saw my best pet friend alive. His smile and that little stub of a tail wagging. ...20 minutes later the clinic called and it was the vet in tears. She told me that Charlie was fine and then had a cardiac arrest from blood clots. Three of them. She brought him back twice....but not the third. That big little heart just couldn't go any more. Charlie Passed away June 18, 2018, at 12:30 pm.

Long story but here is the synopsis. The bills for Charlie total $3500 and mounting as I had to put it on a credit card.

My neighbor who is totally responsible as is the Home owner she rents from, both refuse to pay me and would rather I take them to court. Which I am, but obviously these things don't move quickly and meanwhile I have a CC debt I can't pay off and I'm having interest charged on it so it grows. As I live on a very tight budget and work freelance I need to pay this off now I need the communities help. I am confident I will win and when I do I will donate the appropriate proceeds to the Etowah Valley Humane Society and to the Will County Humane Society where I originally adopted Charlie from.

Charlie was our 'son' We can't have children so maybe we babied Charlie more than average...I shouldn't say baby...he was a tough dog....but treated him as a human. Those who met him knew he was one of the coolest dogs you'd ever met. He knew a dozen tricks and commands. He communicated in an uncanny human way. Tapping you with his paw and grunting out words. He was not just a dog....he was "THE" Dog. Any dog owner knows that feeling.....imagine having your best bud skinned alive in front of you.  He had a facebook page (Charlie JR Terrier) and I even ran him jokingly for president! (Charlie2016) We adopted two other dogs now to fill that void in our hearts and they certainly do help, but nothing will 'replace' Charlie. The love they give is new and different, but I will sorely miss Charlie.

PLEASE NOTE: I am not anti-pit nor do I blame the dogs who attacked Charlie (Sadly the neighbor voluntarily gave them up to animal control rather than face fines for the damage her dogs did, they were euthanized so even more tragedy which could have been avoided if they only interacted with the dogs rather than just leave them outside or running loose constantly in the neighborhood.) If you take time to nurture them they will be the kindest dogs in the world....if not you leave them to react to their nature and all dogs will be brutal in that case.


I named Charlie after Charlie Chaplin. This wonderful dog had the Chaplin moustache and even the eye liner! He was quite the character. I had Charlie cremated and he rests now atop our mantel along with a few of his toys. I know I'll have to 'move on', but this one is not easy.

I leave you with my favorite pictures of Charlie showing off that almost human smile. If anyone asks you do dogs smile, now you can say, "yes, I've seen it."   Thank you for your support.