Junk Yard Charlie ..

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Charlie was brought into the SPCA Montreal May 19th. with a target on his head to be euthanised because of aggression and poor health and lied about saying he was 9-10 years old.. Well as they know we are Basset Hound Rescue.. We got the call about a sick older basset.. So I told them I could not pick him up till I made arrangements for him with our vet Dr. Morel at St.Lazare Animal Hospital.. She agreed to fit him in the 20th at 5:40 in the afternoon.. We went to retrieve this boy not really knowing his shape or circumstance.. Well upon arrival at the SPCA.. we were handed a slip of paper with a scrawled signature on it.. a check for euthanization.. and we saw a $4.65 donation in the corner.. We shook our heads.. Cheap Son Of a B *** .. anyways we were lead to this poor soul in the holding area of the SPCA.. He looked awful.. I just wanted to get him the heck out of there.. the distress in his eyes.. not to mention the pus oozing .. They said.. he's a little aggressive too by the way .. then more of a story developed.. this if you can believe " gentle hearted basset " was used as a junk yard dog.. and in the end of his service it seemed he has some sore hips.. which could be due to his living outside.. which was very noticeable by the shape of his coat.. his eyes were just pus filled and was not wanting to be asked anything.. I tried to leash him to leave but he started growling and snarling.. he felt backed in a corner.. not a good thing for any dog.. So We swung open the large door and tried to coax him out.. he was trying to see through his sore eyes.. He finally did and an attendant there had a lasso rope.. he got it around his neck and I clipped my retractable leach on it.. and we left.. Oh geezzz I thought.. a 100 pound aggressive basset in my van.. was I crazy.. but outside he calmed a bit.. at the van he jumped in.. great I thought.. then to the vets hopefully in time for his appointment.. We arrived there took him in .. or I should say tried to.. he was not having anything to do with an office exam room with a closed door.. Outside we went till a bigger room was available.. We got him in there after waiting outside 20 minutes of so.. Then brought him in.. The vet wanted him muzzled as he was visibly aggressive and growling.. No .. no dice.. he needed to be tranquilized.. that meant taking him outside again an hour this time to calm down.. Well an hour of cold damp mosquito filled parking lot and I was feeling so bad for this confused boy.. we went in again.. The vet tek was able to muzzle him ( as hard as it is to believe muzzling a basset ) he was examined.. blood taken for heartworm test basic vaccines given and bordatella.. I knew I could not take this boy home with my other rescues in my house so I asked and pleaded that he stay the night there.. The vet doesn't "normally" do that but she made an exception.. I went home feeling a wreck.. This wasn't what I expected.. So the scramble was on to find him a place to stay.. NO ONE would take him for at least 48 hours.. So i left him as long as I could at the vets.. Picked him and his meds up and by that time found a place for him.. he just had to spend the night in my van.. I hoped he wouldn't eat it or me when I tried to get back in when morning came.. I snuck out in my PJ's around 11:00 brought him water and some food.. he snarled.. but ate.. we talked I tried to reassure him it would be okay.. and went back in.. came 5:30 I went out again after a very restless night.. I fed him again.. a bit but he did not like the eukanuba .. he prefered the hot dogs.. by 7 I decided I had to let him out for a pee and hoped he'd be okay and not go after me.. I had left the lasso leach on him and it dangled there as he sat on the bench seat of the van.. I grabbed it and hooked him to a 20' tether.. opened the side sliding door and he jumped.. sniffed around and I left him be while I went back inside.. I left him about 30 minutes then returned with my ramp.. step for the van.. having bassets myself I know that helps.. He looked at me I said okay back inside now Charlie.. He hesitated then ran to the other side of the van.. but I said Come On.. You can do it.. He put his two fronts up but the back of him was sore.. probably from being booted when he did not listen.. I reached down and helped this snarling guy in.. really quickly and closed the door.. Quite an adventure..

Drove him to the kennel where he presently is and being dealt with by a behaviorist that I feel will help this guy come around.. I could see in his eyes he still has the heart of a Basset beating in him.. he doesn't want to be aggressive or a scary dog.. Bassets are cuddlers .. easy going.. NON aggressive dogs.. basically prefer couch potatoes lifestyle..
Add him to your prayer list.. He really deserves an easier life than cement and dirt bed and maybe food and water..

After weeks and weeks with the trainers and myself .. I felt Charlie could go into "Foster Care " this could bring his trust issues to even higher plateaus.. I asked a friend and his wife.. They met Charlie with their basset Otto and it seemed okay..

Days passed he was making GOOD progress.. Otto wasn't thrilled.. Charlie had a nice soft cushy bed to sleep in.. his arthritice still plagued him though.. as well his pain in his hips.. all those kicks did severe damage.. He also had a couple of cysts/lumps.. on his side.. The vets exercised caution around him during visits.. muzzle was always needed.. His fear was very ingrained..

This past week Charlie was in allot of pain and his humor had regressed.. biting his foster Mom and Otto.. My worst fear had come true.. after talking with the trainers that worked with him for weeks and the vet.. There was only one answer.. I could not in my heart take him back to the cement enclosed kennel.. to be alone again and put through more.. I could not do that to him.. So I had to ask Frank if he would bury him on their property.. if I had a vet do a home visit to euthanise Charlie.. Frank said alright.. and i knew his heart too was breaking for Charlie as he tried very hard.. Charlie's last day was filled with good food a nice walk and was resting in his bed when the vet arrived..





... Junk Yard Charlie.. A Poem Written By Tiffany ( Foster Mom )




July 24.. 2008 .. Over Rainbow Bridge.. No more pain & suffering.. No more fear .. Rest In Peace My Friend..