A brand without a story is just a "product". If you think about it, it is so true. Here is the story behind Charlie's Mission and how we got started.
It was a Monday evening. I had just pulled in the garage after work with visions of sweat pants and the couch. It had been a long day and I just wanted to relax. That's when I got the text. It was from my boss with a desperate plea for someone to go rescue a dog that had been abandoned by a dumpster at one of our client's office building. Police had been contacted with little assistance, animal control had been contacted and were hours away. All local rescues were contacted but were all over capacity and couldn't take him. I was his last hope.
I couldn't get him off my mind. I couldn't imagine how he must have felt watching his person drive away not knowing if he would ever come back. How scarred he must have been all alone in an unfamiliar place with nothing but the toy they left for him.
The next thing I knew, I was in the truck on my way to get him. When I got there he was scarred half to death but welcomed the attention. I spent some time with him and decided he would be my boy now.
He jumped in the truck just like it was his and off he went. When I got him home, he would not come in the door as if he had never been inside of a house before. Eventually he came in and after several days finally relaxed and made himself at home.
I named him Charlie after my favorite uncle who I found out later had passed away from a blood clot the very same day I got him.
The day after I rescued Charlie, I went to work and found a sticky note with a message to call Kari from One Dog At A Time who found out I had rescued the dog. I called her and with no questions asked she processed the legal adoption of the dog so the owner couldn't change their mind and try to come back for him. She was a wonderful resource and helped me with so many things I didn't even know I needed help with. We quickly became close and the next thing I knew I was involved with her animal rescue.
During this time, I have witnessed so many dogs come and go through the rescue. Animal abuse and neglect cases. Mill dogs. Dogs who's owners just decided they didn't want them any more for 100 different reasons. I have rescued dogs chained to a pole in a basement on a three foot heavy chain and I have rescued dogs in some very nasty conditions. It is said you don't know what you don't know until you know. Now my cause is their cause. I wanted to be their voice when they didn't have one. I wanted every dog to live their best life like my dogs and it just felt so unfair that some dogs just get dealt a bad hand and have no ability to do anything about it.
If you're still with me, here is where Charlie's Mission got started. A short time after I got Charlie, we were cozied up on the couch and out of nowhere he reared his head back, started growling out of nowhere and the next thing I know I was being attacked. It was the most terrifying thing I had ever been through but when he was done, he had a look of pure sorrow in his eyes like he couldn't believe what he had done. I didn't give up on him. Thinking he had been abused, I sought training, veterinary advice and pursued every avenue I could to help this dog. Sadly nothing worked and after 5 separate attacks and lots of scars I had to make the hard decision to have him put to sleep which is when I found out he had a massive brain tumor. When it would swell and put pressure on his brain, it would trigger his aggressive outbursts.
I was heart broken and devastated. Charlie was an amazing dog and I somehow felt connected to him, his life and his story. I did every last thing I could for him and yet it wasn't enough. Despite my best efforts, I couldn't save him.
I had him put to sleep very early on a Sunday Morning. I had just gotten home and once again the phone rang. It was the rescue calling to tell me that there was a dog being dropped off by an owner who couldn't keep him because his land lord found out he had the dog and would be evicted if he didn't get rid of him.
Once again, I was in the truck on the hour long drive to the rescue to save this dog. He was beautiful and I couldn't wait to meet him. It was as if Charlie got where he was going, got himself checked in and sent Foster to watch over me. At that moment I couldn't even think about another dog, I missed Charlie so much but he knew I need him and he needed me.
On the way, I said "We are on Charlie's Mission" and that's where it all began.
It is my mission to make Charlie's life mean something and my mission to make his story make a difference.
One thing I have learned from my time in animal rescue is that it is SUPER HARD for so many reasons. For every heart break, there is a success story and a happy ending that reminds you why you do what you do. It takes special people to put in the hours of hard work and dedication it takes to rescue animals. It is super hard because there is no state or government funding for animal rescues and shelters. They run 100% on donated dollars and raising funds in our current economic climate is getting harder and harder by the minute.
This is my effort to aid and assist animal rescue organizations so they can continue to do what they do.
Thank you for your business and your support and thank you for joining Charlie's Mission. Together we can make a difference.