Charlie Malone

Dear Human World,

I've set off on a journey to find my grandma - she promised there'd be food waiting for me under the table. Guess I have to cross this rainbow bridge thing to get there. Before I go too far, I want to thank every person I met along the way (especially the ones who slipped me snacks). And to anyone whose leg I humped... my apologies.

Please don't be sad. I had an amazing life. My humans gave me everything I ever needed - and plenty of love. They even have a whole field fertilized with my dog poop (don't ask where, it's a secret). Thanks to me, a lot of plants are thriving.

I wasn't thrilled about the diaper stage, but we all agreed it was for the best. And when I kept trying daring stair jumps, they got me this contraption that looked like a suitcase.

Embarrassing? Yes. But I knew they only did it because they cared.

My one human was like my personal vet — always taking me to appointments, stretching my meds so they'd last, and making sure I felt my best. They even gave me a human brother, Matt, who I love so much. And then there's Miley, my dog sister. They told me she was "on trial," so naturally I tried to get her in trouble. Well... after 13 years she's still on probation, so l guess I didn't succeed. And there’s my favorite human, my running partner, and the best ear scratcher.

Don’t be sad. Instead, I’ll leave you with these lessons that I learned from my family:

1. Boundaries matter. When my humans put up a fence, I learned that sometimes boundaries are there to keep us safe-even if I didn't always understand them. I'll never forget the day I bonked my nose barking at the neighbor's dog. It hurt, but it taught me that limits are part of love and protection.

2. Go to the helpers. The moment my nose started bleeding, I didn't hesitate-| ran straight to my humans. I knew they'd be there to comfort me, to take care of me, and to make it better. Life's lesson: when you're hurt, scared, or struggling, go to the ones who love you. They'll help you heal.

3. Love your family deeply. My humans have a quote on their wall that says, "If you want to change the world, go home and love your family." I saw them live that truth every day. They loved me, they loved each other, and they showed me that the greatest gift we give is our love at home.

Most of all, I just want to say goodbye, and I love you all — especially my humans (and yes, even Miley). They're the best dog parents ever, and I hope they bring another pup into their lives. Whoever it is will be the luckiest dog in the world.

Until we meet again,

Charles Malone Mitchell

aka Charlie, Char, Char-no, Char-leave-them-alone, Charmander, Charmandarin, T-Money, Chuck, Oldie Bear, Oldiest Bear Ever

Summer 2009 - September 2, 2025