Perseverance

Charlie Brown bust into my life when he was 8 weeks old. He was rescued from a puppy mill in New Mexico and had already survived parvovirus. After 6 hard months, he was finally well and became a complete terror of a puppy. By the time he was 2 years old, he settled down and has been one of the best dogs I have owned. When Charlie was 5 years old, he had an FCE – a spinal embolism – that caused him to be paralyzed from the waist down. After a two days in the emergency vet, he recovered with just a UTI. A year and a half later, Charlie had a ruptured disc and again he was paralyzed from the waist down. He was diagnosed with Invertebrate Disc Disease (IVDD) and required back surgery to resolve it. He was up and walking within a week and recovered fully.

During his 7th year, Charlie had two accidents in which he lacerated his tail. The first time it was a stitch fix, but the second time, the tip of his tail was ripped off and they had to complete a partial amputation to help it heal. Before his tail hair had even grown back, Charlie ruptured another disc. It was worse this time. He was paralyzed without deep pain sensation and had a 50/50 chance of walking again. Charlie is now 8 years old, has physical therapy twice per week, and is still unable to walk independently. We use a harness to move him around and just received a rear wheel chair donation so he could run around the park, almost like he used to.

Despite all of the challenges, Charlie Brown’s ability to adapt and to push through no matter the odds has inspired me. He has had to rise up against so many obstacles and has never stopped pushing for one minute. He still loves adventure – going to the park, riding in the mountains, and seeing new places. Charlie loves to play with his toys and with his brother, and tries to walk and move in any way he can. We have been through so much together that I have bonded with him like no other dog. He’s my ray of sunshine and a light in so many lives, and I only hope that he continues to live his best life for as long as he can. I love him so much.

This incredible story of Charlie Brown was shared by a human named Stef.