I hope you all had a great Christmas and a happy new year. I hope 2011 fulfils all of your expectations. 2010 was an eventful year; I took in a few countries along the way, drove away with some fantastic Italian memories, and eventually ended up in Spain. Fish wise it wasn’t great for the lumps, but for quantity in numbers and the sheer quality of the public water carp I caught, I was actually rather proud of my results.
Enjoying herself at Madine!
Unfortunately, I have some very sad news to deliver now. I have deliberately left it till now, as I did not want to announce anything whilst people were celebrating with families around brightly decorated trees, boasting piles of presents to match. My sweet girl Charley at the age of ten yrs two months was put to sleep on Boxing Day. She fortunately suffered no pain, she went downhill in hours but her outcome was completely out of the blue to me.
Most of my regular readers will know, or anyone who ever met Charley would have probably noticed her lipoma problem. I had them all checked before I left the UK in 2008. They grew in number but weren’t life threatening. On the eve of Christmas I was giving Flash a playful stroke, when in bowled Charley to get her turn. I then noticed that a new lump had appeared which was in her armpit area. It did not look good and I was rather concerned about it.
Christmas day morning began and the families pack of dogs were walked. Charley was in fine fettle and ran alongside Flash for a bit of oap play. You would never have known she was so close to death. One of my sisters is a vet and at midday when she arrived at my parent’s house, she examined Charley and confirmed it was likely to be a tuma. I was naturally devastated.
Later that day and after she had enjoyed a larger than normal dinner she began to get restless and could not settle. Lying in a comfortable position was becoming a problem for her, and it was then I noticed that her stomach felt abnormal. My sister called me into the kitchen and told me that Charley in fact probably had a larger tuma in her tummy. I knew this was the end for my beautiful, dog. It was Christmas day, the time when families reunite, gluttony and greed take over, and most people forget what Christmas is really about. I have been on the bank for the last two years, but this year I was so glad I had family around me as I looked at my non-complaining canine friend trying to find a good way to lie down. With my family watching tv in the lounge I chose to stay in that kitchen ensuring she was not in pain and had water in her bowl; and remembered all the good times we had shared, especially the last three years, as I know she had enjoyed them the most.
In the morning she had deteriorated very quickly. The tuma in her tummy had bled internally and she was weak, and cold. We covered her in a blanket and my sister called the local vet who said they could deal with the sad task within the hour. My family said their goodbyes as I picked my dog off her bed and carried her out to my father’s car. I reassured her during the short journey, and then bravely I lifted my faithful companion into my arms, and carried her into the vets. I lowered her gently onto the examination table. My sister, and being a vet, had already briefed the young male vet on the telephone of the tragic circumstances. The lethal injection was already prepared, so I held my girls head in my hands. The vet did a professional job, it was quick, and now my dog looked calm and relaxed. She was asleep – she would wake up in the warm sunshine whilst lying on a patch of grass in Aviron swim at Lac de st Cassien. We all spent two thirds of a year in that location, and I will return to Aviron to scatter her ashes when I get the opportunity. She will be pleased to see me no doubt!
RIP Charley girl.
There will no doubt be many of you shocked and saddened by this unexpected news about Charley girl. Well don’t be. Charley was a wonderful animal and she touched many people’s souls. She has bought many people pleasure through pictures of her, and Flash, in articles all over Europe, and in the UK and through this blog of course. To put it simply I am sure she will be missed by everyone, but I only have happy memories, and so should you all. From her and her best friend Flash’s first break for stardom, pictured sporting the Carpworld merchandise back in 2008, to them being given two whole pages in an Italian magazine, with her and flash laying on my friend’s bedchair, with Charley wearing his green coat. My dogs are loved by many, people request to have their photos taken with them, they are part of me, my trademark, and Jake and the dogs still lives on, except it is now just Flashy boy and his master.
Flash incidentally is coping fine. He was a little bit anxious for a few days without his pal around, but as I said to my mum, Charley probably told him anyway. He knows she has gone to a comfortable new home. Well dogs must communicate with each other mustn’t they!!
My next blog will be from Spain.
Take care.
Jake & Flash.
