Without a doubt, dogs are the most loyal and gentle creatures on earth. The connection between humans and their four-legged companions is difficult to describe in words. This beautiful story is about the love, respect, and deep bond that people and dogs can share.
Kelly O’Connell and her beloved pup, Charlie the Bear, met 15 years ago. At the time, the 19-year-old was volunteering at a local animal shelter in New York State. Charlie was only 12 weeks old when he arrived at the shelter because he was found frozen in a shopping cart. While Kelly wasn’t planning on adopting a dog at the time, when she saw the little guy, she knew it had to happen. “He came in and I said, ‘Yeah. I’m going to take this puppy home,'” she recalls.
A few years later, Kelly, who also graduated from veterinary school, moved to Colorado, where she met James Gavin (also a veterinarian). It was love at first sight, and soon after they met, they decided to move in together (and Charlie, of course). Soon after, Kelly and James decided to get married. Of course, they want Charlie there too. But unfortunately, the 15-year-old dog was diagnosed with a brain disorder. He’s getting worse and worse, he’s weak.
His human parents worried that he wouldn’t be able to be there on their wedding day. “I had made an appointment for a guy to come to the house and we were going to euthanize him a week before the wedding because he had had five seizures and we were like, ‘This is too much, I don’t want to do this and don’t give it to him anymore, ‘” Kelly said!
Miraculously, a week before the wedding, Charlie started to feel better. “In the end, it was almost like he was saying to himself, ‘No, I want to see this,'” the woman said. “He’s getting better. [He] Looks like a brand new dog. ”
Charlie did attend the wedding of his favorite human being and the moment they shared was so touching. Thankfully, wedding photographer Jen Dziuvenis captured these lovely scenes.
“There aren’t enough mascaras in the world for these moments,” says Jen. “This is what love looks like. A loving family, love animals… It’s the most moving demonstration I’ve ever seen.”
A week later, Charlie was euthanized and died peacefully in the company of his beloved family. Kelly and Jason will always remember him! “It’s been an extraordinary 15 years. That’s for sure,” Kelly said.
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