Five years without our boy...

Can't believe it's been over 5 years since Charlie left us. We lost Jojo last August due to heart failure. I still can't work on his scrapbook, I miss him so much. It's hard to leave them to memory and go on sometimes. Jojo used to follow me around like my little shadow. Do I sound full of myself when I say I was his whole world? He would bark whenever Steve would hug me, "None of that, dad, she's MINE!" I still sit awake and night and miss his particular little snore. Another baby waiting for me at the Bridge.

We also had a little girl named Sophie, who has come and gone. She was a 9-year-old little demon with a tennis ball. She came into our lives and was gone in less than a year from an intestinal infection.

We loved them all and it's so hard to say goodbye. We still miss you Charlie!

Judy, from 7 Bells, passed away last October from ovarian cancer. I know that she's probably in Heaven tending to all the animals who never had a home on earth, and I know she's watching over Charlie and Jojo for us until we're together again. I love and miss you too, Judy! You were seriously one in a million and no one will ever be able to take your place!

Happy Birthday Charlie

I just wanted to let you know I havent' forgotten about you little guy. I"m sure you're just fine,but wanted to let you know you're missed. I hope you're thinking about last year, your birthday cake and the yummy srawberry ice cream and remembering how much we loved you!
Mom

For the Love of Charlie

Since we lost Charlie we've gone on to adopt 2 more foster dogs from 7 Bells Sanctuary in Missouri. Ben and Jojo came to live with us in January and we love them so much! Please take the time to visit your local shelter or sanctuary and give a dog a second chance to have a good life! I love the sign at our local shelter, it says something to the effect of, "Can't decide between the lab, the sheltie and the boxer? Take them all!" They bring so much joy to our lives, I don't know what I would do without all my babies. We have Charlie to thank for all the blessings that have come into our lives since we got him. We still miss him every day, and his ashes sit on the piano as a constant reminder of our little guy. I still shed tears over our loss, but I've been so blessed to have had him in my life.

Here are a couple pictures of the new guys...

This is Jojo. His name is really Johan, but that's such a mouthful and so solemn for such a happy guy. He's 11 (give or take) and if I wanted to, I'd rename him Velcro. He never leaves my side! He loves Charlie's old bed and lays in it all night while I'm working.

This is Ben. He loves his Bobo! He's a very active 10 year old who loves to run and play outside! He's so funny, I love to hold him in my lap because he mumbles constantly. He's so happy to have a home of his own. He used to live with an older man and when he passed away they found Ben sitting on his lap. I'm sure he misses his old friend, but we're sure glad he's here!

This will probably be the last post on Charlie's blog. His story is over. But we've started a new blog for all the fur kids in our family. You can check it out at http://kurtzkidz.blogger.com We'll see you there!

Happy New Year

I can certainly say I hope that 2007 is better for 2006! We got Charlie's ashes back from the vet on Friday, as promised. I was surprised it was done on time because of the holidays. It was like reopening a wound. I think if I put all the skin and hair he lost over the past months in a box it would be bigger than the one his ashes are in. So tiny. So sad. I just can't get over how quiet the house is. Charlie had a very distinctive, deep bark, different from the other 3, and I miss it so much. He would bark whenever it was time to be fed - and he was fed 4 times a day, so we heard a lot of barking! He'd also bark to be let in when he was done outside. I've called for him to come twice this week when I let the others in before I remembered he wasn't there. Steve says he doesn't want to get another dog right away, he thinks 3 is enough for now. I don't think you can ever have too many dachshunds. He may feed them, but I'm the one who spends most of the time with them!

I hope all of our dachsie friends have a very happy and prosperous 2007!

Mindi and Steve
Heidi, Ruger, Buttercup, and Charlie Brown - Angel Dog

A Not So Very Merry Christmas

We got through Christmas and it was okay. Steve loves his train, the one that I had imagined Charlie would be entranced by. Ruger is afraid of it and Buttercup tried to bite it. I don't think Heidi even saw it. She's been hiding a lot in her blanket. Buttercup wants to be held constantly and if you don't pick her up when she wants to be picked up she barks until you do! Ruger is just Ruger, still a nervous Nellie, even more so. Steve is sad too, I know, although like all men he's being stoic. Buttercup has to go have her nails trimmed and her anal glands cleaned - acutally she needs to see the groomer yet, but I just don't have it in me to go to the vet's office. I can't believe it's only been 4 days. It seems like he's been gone forever. His little room still smells like him, even though Steve and I have both scrubbed the floor. I want to repaint the room. It needed it anyway.

We got a sympathy card from the vet's office today. That was so thoughtful of them. Mom and Bob sent another. It's a big thing to lose a fur baby, it really is. Although I'm sure some people think I'm nuts for being so sad about it. I just have to deal with this grief in my own way. Thanks to all my friends from Lovedachs and my e-mail friends. You're all wonderful - but then you're all doxie people, I expect no less...

Thank you

So many people have said so many wonderful things about Charlie. We can never express our thanks in person to everyone who has taken the time and effort to let us know how Charlie touched their lives or to let us know they lit a candle last night to light his way to the bridge. He touched so many people and he was loved by so many. We'll all miss him. Thanks again. Please feel free to check back on his blog from time to time. As I find older pictures I'll post them.

Mindi and Steve

Charlie's tribute at the Dachshund Memorial Garden

I'm adding the link to Charlie's tribute so anyone who wants to can visit him. If you'd like to take the time you can look up Oscar Kurtz and Schnapps Kurtz and see Charlie's two olders brothers who went to the bridge before him. I"m sure they're playing and having a wonderful time.

http://home.it.net.au/~opalowl/december2006.html
and scroll down to his name or you can click on this link and go direct, but it takes a bit longer to download
http://home.it.net.au/~opalowl/december2006.html#cbkurtz

Mindi

More Pics of Charlie Brown

These pictures were taken the night of the 21st, after he had started sneezing the blood. Obviously, we knew he wasn't going to be around much longer. We had given Charlie his Christmas present early, his squeaky gingerbread man, but he wasn't very interested in it.

Some Christmas Pictures of Charlie

Here are some pictures we took for the Christmas card, but obviously didn't use. I'll be adding some more older pictures too. He loved the other hats and reindeer antlers, he thought they were toys to play with!

From Charlie's Mom - A Sad Day

I write with a very heavy heart today that Charlie went to the Rainbow Bridge yesterday. I think he had been struggling for the past few weeks and we had an appointment with Dr. J earlier this week. We knew he was failing, but decided to wait until after the holidays were over before we made a definite decision. But then fate, as it always does, decided to take control of the situation. Charlie started sneezing and coughing up blood last night and we knew it was time. So, yesterday Charlie had an appointment with the vet (sadly, Dr. J wasn't available) and he went to the bridge to wait for us.

I have never in my life felt as sad as I do today. The house is so empty, remarkably so, considering he was only 8 pounds! I'm trying to work tonight, but can hardly see to type through the tears, and when I pass the little room where he slept for the past 15 months, the grief is totally overwhelming. The hardest thing to bear is that I know Charlie wasn't ready to go. When we were in the office waiting for Dr. S to come in, Charlie was actually crying tears. They were running down his face and I had to wipe them away with a tissue as I did my own. He knew he was loved and he was happy, but unfortunately his abused, battered little body couldn't take any more.

I look forward to the day when Charlie, Oscar, Schanpps, and all my other furbabies that go to the bridge before I do will be reunited. I know this will happen as surely as I know the sun will rise tomorrow, but not matter how long it takes it will be too long. Steve and I are both just devastated by the loss.

For anyone who ever knew Charlie or ever had any contact with him, you know he was one special dog with a presence about him that was just a joy to be around. He was so happy to be finally released from the prison of the puppy mill and I know he thanks Sonja and Grandma Judy in helping him find his way home to us. We're so thankful to everyone who ever had any contact with Charlie and to all of Charlie's Angels for being there for him and us. He will live forever in all our hearts.

If for some reason you have never been to Charlie's blog before and are touched by his story please, please make a committment to never, ever buy a puppy or a kitten from a pet store. The puppy mills would have a hard time staying in business if they weren't supported by pet stores. Please consider adopting a rescue dog or cat if you're looking for a new pet, there are too many dogs looking for homes to have any excuse to breed a dog or cat just to have a puppy or kitten. Senior dogs need love too, as do dogs with handicaps. And please, please, spay or neuter your pets. Do it for the love of Charlie.

We miss you little man. We'll see you again.

Love, Mom

Naked Dog

I think I'm still losing my hair. Mom and dad were watching a movie with grandma last night and mom was taking dead skin of my back (I know it sounds gross, but it feels so GOOD). All of a sudden a big piece came off and it had hair on it. Mom cried. Jeez mom, it's MY hair! How do you think I feel? I think it's going to be a really cold winter - being naked and all...

I haven't been to see the vet in a long time. Mom says that too, but then she says, "knock on wood". I have no idea what that has to do with anything, but I am glad I haven't had to go to the doctor. Dad was cutting Heidi's toenails Friday night and he made her scream and cry and her toenail was bleeding all over mom's leg. Cool huh? Mom didn't think so I guess, but Heidi got held and petted, and held and petted. It was sickening I tell you, sickening! I wouldn't be such a big baby about such a stupid thing. It's a TOENAIL Heidi, get over it. Geez what a girl she is... (Heidi, not mom.) I saw mom cut her leg in that big bathtub thing once and she didn't cry. She said those words that she doesn't say all the time and she yelled when she said them, but she didn't cry. Mom is NOT a baby.

Dad was gone for a long time last weekend. I guess it was only 4 days mom said, but that doesn't mean much to me. Anyway, when he came home he smelled so great! I just smelled and smelled all the stuff on his pants and boots. Then mom made him take a bath. She said he stunk up the place. I thought he smelled great. I guess he went out with his big gun and shot at some deer and that's why he smelled so good. Or maybe it was 'cause he didn't have a bath for a couple days. Mom made him though. She obviously doesn't know what a GOOD smell is!

I think tonight I'm going to get a bath. I'm not looking foward to it, but mom says I could knock a buzzard off the north end of a southbound donkey and I guess that's a bad thing. I've been trying not to eat so much poop lately, dad's been picking it up and throwing it over the fence so I can't reach it. Not very nice of him, is it? I'll forgive him though, because he got me more rabbit meat dog food. For a while they were buying other food for me. The gravy was nice, but it made me itch, so I got my old food back. Now I don't itch anymore. Guess I'll forgive him for throwing the poop away.

Dad got me some new toys the other day too. He says he got them for all of us, but I know he says that just because he doesn't want the other dogs to know how special I am. It must be hard to be them and never get any new toys. Mom found my favorite peanut treats at the store too. She says if I have to be bald I might as well have my favorite treats. I don't know if that's an even trade - hair for peanut treats, but I'll take them anyway.

Uh oh, dad's home. I gotta get off the computer. Love you all!

Chuck