Charlie
The
e-mail message to us was titled "Great Dane Needs Home."
It came from the Humane Society in Deer Lodge, the county
seat for Powell County, where the sanctuary is located. A
shelter employee had seen our Web site. She wrote:
"We have a lot of dogs needing homes but one particularly sticks out to me and I was wondering if you might be able to help me give him a great home. He is a young Great Dane/spaniel mix though he looks like a Great Dane with floppy ears. He came in 3 months ago when his owners moved and just left him abandoned in their apartment. He is the gentlest, sweetest dog you could imagine and I would be grateful if you would be able to help us give him a great life. If you can help out in any way, please let us know as soon as possible."
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A few e-mails and phone calls later, we agreed to provide a home for him at the sanctuary. We drove down to Deer Lodge, picked him up, and then drove him over to Helena for a medical exam and neutering.
Charlie is about a year old, still puppyish and still growing into his lanky frame. He's 90% legs and quite skinny. If he were a human, he'd be a teenage basketball phenomenon.
He's the first dog we've had who can easily rest his head on the dining table while standing at your side. No need to sit up and beg for a treat with this fellow; Charlie comes on over and simply drops his head on the table. With one "ka-plunk," he's at eye level with your plate.
He has, like most of his new buddies here, also discovered the joys of rolling around in the meadows on the sanctuary. That is, of course, when he's not busy sticking his big head down small gopher holes.
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Update October 2004: People notice that this wonderful, big dog has no disabilities and wonder why he's here. Good question! Although we've had offers to adopt Charlie, we decided to keep him because he is the natural 'alpha' of the pack given his size… and as a sweet, easy-going, gentle boy, he sets a wonderful tone for the whole canine crew. When the 'alpha' loves to get along with everyone, the rest of them get the message, too!
