A Sad Goodbye by Ree

I don’t want to write this post, but I have to write this post. Charlie, our beloved Basset Hound, died yesterday. I have talked about the fact that he had an illness over the past year, but I haven’t really posted much detail.

Charlie was diagnosed with lymphoma over a year ago. He had suddenly become very ill, and the prognosis wasn’t good. Fortunately, we found Dr. Hodges, a veterinary specialist in Tulsa, and his quick treatment caused Charlie to go into remission, and he enjoyed a year of normal life and wellness again. When he first got sick, it took me by surprise and I just remember thinking to myself “I just want him to have more time on the ranch to be a ranch dog…” I’m so grateful that Dr. Hodges allowed that to happen.

Charlie only recently got sick again, and as it progressed, I prayed for the discernment know when the right time would be. After all, how do you know whether a Basset Hound isn’t feeling well? How do you know when a Basset Hound is overly lethargic—particularly one whose favorite hobby is sleeping on the couch? Basset owners, you know what I’m talking about.

Yesterday after church, it became very clear that the right time had come. Our wonderful local vet Dr. Jan, who has taken care of Charlie since he was a pup, came out to the house so Charlie wouldn’t have to leave the ranch. It was peaceful and quiet, and since Alex is home from college, she got to say goodbye to him. I’ve sobbed off and on ever since, mostly because of all the good memories of the best dog a family could ever, ever have. He lived a full life out here with the cows and the rabbits, and I’m so grateful he was ours.

I feel a little funny writing much about this, because Charlie was a dog—and because there is so much human tragedy and sadness all around that this can’t even begin to compare to. But anyone who’s ever loved a dog understands that it’s a special kind of loss—one that all dog families have to go through since dogs generally don’t outlive us. And why is that? Ugh!

A special note for kids who loved Charlie: Parents, I’ll let you decide what (and whether) to tell your kids about Charlie the Ranch Dog. It might not be necessary if they are younger! But here’s what I’d like kids to know if it comes up.

And I’d like the rest of you to know it, too.

 
Charlie was a great ranch dog! He liked to work with Marlboro Man.

 
He liked attention.

 
And boy, did he get a lot of attention!

 
Did you ever hear about the time we put Charlie up on the hay bales…

 
And he actually discovered he could fly?

 
(This will always be one of my favorite Charlie memories.)

 
Charlie loved football. Go figure.

 
He loved Little Smokies…(and bacon…and steak…)

 
He really loved naps.

 
He did NOT love baths—that is for certain.

(Charlie was not known for his pleasant fragrance.)

 
Charlie loved his brother Walter (even though he tried to act like he didn’t!)

 
And again: He really loved going to work with Marlboro Man. The only thing that could always get Charlie to wake up and hop off the couch was the sound of Ladd’s spurs walking toward the door to go outside.

Ladd loved Charlie so much.

In fact, everyone loved Charlie!

 
Uncle Tim loved him…

 
Cowboy Josh loved him…

 
Paige loved him…

 
Alex loved him…

 
All the kids and the cousins loved him…

 
And I sure loved him. A lot.

We have such wonderful memories of Charlie, and they will live on forever and ever. We are very sad he is gone and we will miss him, but we are so happy we got to have him as long as we did. And we are happy he is at peace now.

Thank you all for loving Charlie right along with me.

Love,
Ree