This Dog Will Steal Your Heart
Meet Charleston Chew, the adorable 11 year-old diabetic pug with cataracts. He’s hanging in there, but due to his visual impairment, it’s hard keeping up with owner Sharla Wilson.
Image: (Sharla Wilson/Upworthy)
Sharla adopts Charleston at five weeks old. Throughout her life, her little companion is a source of comfort and joy.
This friendly dog gets along with almost everyone. After a burglary, Sharla even jokes about Charleston’s demeanor. She says Charleston is so nice he’s likely to help the intruders and offer a cold libation for the trouble.
Sharla and Charleston endure much together in their journeys. But a recent move presents new challenges.
A New Home
As Sharla transitions into her new apartment in Pennsylvania, Charleston struggles to adjust. His lack of sight makes a simple trip from the bedroom to the kitchen problematic. Left alone, Charleston quickly disorients himself.
As dog owners, we know their separation from us can be a source of distress. Imagine how much more difficult for a dog with a visual handicap. When he suddenly finds himself lost in the apartment or feels distant, he howls.
For this pug, even waking up without Sharla by his side is enough to upset him. Although Sharla doesn’t mind Charleston’s howls, others may not be as tolerant. Out of neighborly concern, she drafts a letter and tapes it to her apartment door.
Writing in her dog’s voice, she explains that Charleston is a senior who has trouble getting around. Sometimes, he loses sight of his surroundings. Charleston asks his neighbors to be patient with him. Hopefully, things will be less noisy once he settles.
Image: (Sharla Wilson/Upworthy)
Interestingly, neighbor Megan Jones, who doesn’t live on the fifth floor, encounters the letter. After mistakenly pressing five on the elevator, she sees the message as the door slides open. The letter moves Megan’s heart.
Megan snaps a photo of the letter, posts it to Twitter, and voila! The rest is history as they say.
The tweet takes social media by storm, reaching over half a million people. Fellow dog owners share the image of the letter and photos of their dogs, in an outpouring of response. Sharla also receives praise for how she handles the situation.
Well, you asked for it. He smelled a dandelion he couldn’t locate and howls galore ensued… pic.twitter.com/8ACenw95G1
— Sharla (@Charlestons_Mom) May 2, 2018
The Gift of Kindness
But what happens next is truly inspiring. Since Charleston has diabetes, he has particular needs. Insulin, prescription food, and other items specific to his condition is expensive. Sharla forks over $300 a month caring for him.
Given his age and ailments, she’s well aware of the possibility of losing him. Regardless, Sharla wants to give Charleston the best quality of life she can, even if it means sacrificing her pocketbook.
Thanks to the popularity of Megan’s tweet, something beautiful happens. As more people respond, people are curious about how they can help Charleston. After some suggest a gift card, Petsmart responds with a tweet, inviting Charleston on a no-cost shopping spree.
Another twitter user inquires of 1-800-PetMeds to help Charleston. 1-800-PetMeds responds and sends Sharla a treats basket full of items to help his condition. Also, WyzeCam, a smart home camera company, provides a camera so Sharla can keep an eye on Charleston while away.
The response overwhelms her. A simple letter to appease her neighbors results in the utmost display of kindness, as strangers rally together in support.
Image: (Sharla Wilson/Upworthy)
Sharla is grateful for the charity, and what moves her most is the tremendous support from the online community. Everyone embraces Charleston as though he were their own.
Perhaps through dogs, humans can learn a few lessons on compassion. It’s beautiful to hear of this generosity.
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