In Loving Memory of Charlie
    01.10.2012. – 28.10.2024

    Charlie at Bridge 109 over the Leeds & Liverpool Canal near Rishton, Lancashire on 16 August 2022

    My name is Paul Mercer.
    This is a brief story about my best friend, Charlie, who was a Tibetan Spaniel cross breed.
    I never knew what breed Charlie was crossed with.
    Somebody once suggested it may have been a gremlin because he was so fiery at times.
    Charlie was a very young stray in Croatia when he was rescued and brought to the UK in early 2013.

    The vet’s estimate for Charlie’s date of birth was 1st October 2012.

    Charlie was with another family until he became my master (yes that’s right, he was the boss) in February 2016.
    I was living in Grappenhall, Cheshire at the time.
    A little dog named Rosie lived in the house that backed on to where we lived…. …and a big dog, also called Rosie, used to live next door.
    Whenever there was a fence or a gate between Charlie and any of the two Rosies, there was chaos..!

    Charlie in Stockton Lane, Grappenhall on 26 December 2016


    Charlie loved to chase pigeons, squirrels and cats…
    …but he never caught any.

    He deserved 10 out of 10 for trying though as can be seen in the video below taken in Grappenhall on the 3rd February 2018.
    Charlie saw a squirrel run up the tree and went to investigate.

    *WARNING*
    Charlie barks a lot in this video. You might want to turn your volume down.

    Charlie by the Bridgewater Canal, Grappenhall on 8 August 2019

    Charlie was a small dog with short legs yet he loved going on long walks, especially around Parrs Wood, Grappenhall Heys, Lymm Dam, The Dingle at Appleton…
    …and of course, along the towpath of the Bridgewater Canal.
    He also enjoyed the walk down Stockton Lane and playing on the fields with his doggy friends Arney, Benjie, Buddy, Mac and Pippa.

    Charlie with Arney and Benjie in June 2021.

    …
    In August 2021, Charlie and I moved to Rishton, Lancashire where we stayed for just over a year.
    We were very close to the Leeds & Liverpool Canal alongside which we enjoyed many walks towards Oswaldtwistle, Church and Clayton le Moors.
    We also enjoyed walks to Tottleworth and Great Harwood.
    Charlie made friends with several dogs on our walks, but none more so than Meg, a beautiful Golden Labrador who lived next door with Jan and Eric.

    My friend Dave had a Transit van which Charlie used to love travelling in.
    Whenever Dave pulled up outside the house, Charlie instantly recognised the sound of his engine and was keen to jump into the van waiting to go for a drive.

    Charlie at Tottleworth, Lancashire on 30 April 2022

    …

    In 2022, we moved to Chesterton, Staffordshire where Charlie met my friend Chris and his two dogs, Ozzie and Poppy.
    Ozzie and Charlie could tolerate each other…
    …but Poppy and Charlie, not a chance..!

    Apedale Community Country Park became the new walking territory for me and Charlie.

    Charlie in Apedale Country Park, Staffordshire on 18 February 2023
    Charlie in Apedale Country Park on 23 August 2024


    Although Charlie was only small, he was huge in character.
    Charlie became a local celebrity at The Red Lion pub in Chesterton, where Bev, the landlady, would make such a fuss of him.
    Sometimes he was too fiery though, as some of the local ‘dog whisperers’ found out.
    Charlie’s doggy friends in the Red Lion were Luna and Milo.

    Charlie at The Red Lion, Chesterton on 18 October 2024

    In the years we were together, Charlie didn’t have many health issues… until the last few months of his life when he refused to eat his food every now and then.
    He had an operation in May 2024 after which I thought he was getting better…
    …but then a few months later, he became really poorly very quickly and lost a lot of weight.
    Charlie was due to have an endoscopy on Wednesday 30th October 2024 to try and find out why he would not eat. On Monday 28th, he became so weak and I took him to the vet earlier than planned.

    I was devastated when the vet said it was unlikely that Charlie would survive through the night without suffering in some way and that he would not have the strength to survive the anaesthetic needed for an endoscopy.
    The vet advised me to have Charlie put to sleep straight away to avoid him having to suffer through the night.

    I held Charlie and looked into his eyes as he slipped away.
    A part of me died that evening too.

    My consolation is in knowing that Charlie did not suffer for a long time and that he will no longer suffer.

    Although I feel lost without Charlie, I am so grateful to him for the wonderful times we shared.
    I loved him so much and was with him every single day since he came into my life.
    We were together 24/7 most of that time.

    Charlie had a few nicknames…
    …depending on what he was up to at the time..!

    Cheeky Charlie
    Charlie Boy
    Chicken Charlie (he loved chicken)
    Charlie Cheese (although he did not eat a lot of cheese)
    Charlie the Tooth
    The Schmacko King (he went through a phase of liking Schmacko treats)
    Mister Grumpy
    Captain Quirk (he was very quirky at times)
    Captain White Sock (his front left paw was white)
    Gnasher

    Charlie was my best friend.
    I miss him so much.

    Rest in Peace Charlie.