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Charlie and Ted

@chardoodlebear

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↠ Goldendoodle | 2.1.13 | puptivist ♡s 💤 & 🍿
↠ Cockapoo | 7.23.07 - 3.18.25 | senior rescue
🏡 Toronto 🇨🇦
👩🏼‍💻@sophietolias
✉️[email protected]

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I’m devastated to share that on Tuesday at 7:58 pm our sweet Teddy passed away.

Last Friday, Ted suddenly had a decreased appetite, excessive panting and an elevated resting breathing rate. He was diagnosed with congestive heart failure and admitted to the ER. He responded to treatment, and in true Ted fashion, he marched out of that ER with attitude. At home he continued to refuse food and we returned to the ER. His kidney levels were elevated signalling kidney failure so they were afraid to IV him fluid until he saw cardio the next morning.

We brought him home and even though he was weak and exhausted and it was only the second time in the past three and a half years I felt I had a senior dog at home, we had a beautiful and peaceful night together that I will forever be grateful for.

Monday, we saw cardio and he said Ted never had congestive heart failure and the kidney failure was temporary due to the diuretics to drain the fluid in his lungs. He had pneumonia. He wasn’t eating because of the pneumonia and the diuretics. They admitted him to the ER and started him on IV fluids and IV antibiotics and they were prepared to put in a feeding tube if he didn’t eat after starting fluids. As they were checking him to put in a feeding tube, his blood pressure dropped and he started to decline. They called to tell us he was in sepsis or systemic inflammatory response syndrome. We were a block away, on our way there. They worked on treating the sepsis but our little fighter didn’t have any more fight left in him and his little heart stopped beating. They did CPR on him for 20 minutes while we stood on the other side of the ER doors listening. I have never felt so helpless in my entire life.

My heart hurts so much, but I’m finding comfort in imagining him back to his silly, playful, joyful, feisty self, eating all the snackies his heart desires.

Everyone loved him. I will always be proud and in awe of how much joy Ted brought to everyone and how many people were inspired by his resilience.

My sweet boy, it was an honour to be your mom, to love you and to be loved by you. We will love you forever. Rest in love my little T. 💔 taken in Toronto, Ontario by @chardoodlebear

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2 years ago

It’s called Black Dog Syndrome, and this phenomenon is the reason National Black Dog Day exists. 🖤

Whether it’s because it’s more difficult to capture facial expressions and eyes in dim lighting or standard shelter photos, making online listings less eye-catching, or because of superstitions (like the belief that black pets are bad luck or are more aggressive) black dogs often wait longer for adoption than lighter-coloured dogs.

Share a photo of your black dog in the comments and tell us something about their beautiful personality. Let’s fill the comments with black dogs and show everyone just how special they are. 🖤

Happy National Black Dog Day to Benny and all the beautiful black doggos. 🖤🐾

#NationalBlackDogDay #BlackDogSyndrome #RescueDogs #BlackDogLove by @chardoodlebear

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15 days ago

When we opened our hearts to the idea of bringing another dog home, we tried a few times with different rescues, but none worked out.

There was disappointment, of course — especially the cockapoo named Teddy, who “loves playing fetch and can do it all day long,” which made me think he was meant to be, and Civic, the little hooligan cockapoo whose crazy reminded me of Ted.

But strangely, I was okay with that. Because I had this feeling that when the dog who was meant to be ours came along, Ted would lead us to him.

Bandit ended up at Happy’s Place Senior Rescue after his human died. Someone (a neighbour or family member) dropped him off at a vet wearing a harness meant for a much larger dog. He came with a bag of belongings: tattered toys he must have grown up with, a Nautica raincoat, a winter coat and a bottle of probiotics.

He had fresh injuries, including two completely torn-off nails and several chipped teeth. No one knew what had happened. Maybe Bandit had been home and frightened when his human died. Maybe someone had crated him to keep him separated from the large dog whose harness he was wearing, and he injured himself trying to get out.

They said he was very old and sick and told the vet they couldn’t keep him. They had brought him there to be euthanized. The vet refused, contacted Happy’s, and his fosters picked him up. His injuries were treated and it turned out he was very healthy and seemed to be around six years old.

When we interviewed with Benny’s fosters, we bonded over the dogs we had both recently lost. There were tears on both sides of the call.

We brought Bandit home in January and called him Benjamin (Benny), a nod to Ted, our Benjamin Button who aged backwards.

The drive to pick him up felt complicated.

We were excited. But grief was in the car too. Guilt was there too. I hoped Ted knew we weren’t replacing him, and I asked him for a sign that he knew.

His song came on the radio, just like it had when he was hospitalized and when we picked up his ashes. I knew it meant he was with us. But was he telling us he had something to do with bringing Benny to us? (Continued in pinned comment.) by @chardoodlebear

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a month ago

Happy heavenly birthday to my sweet Teddy. Today he would have turned 19. #july23 by @chardoodlebear

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3 months ago

I’m not saying I’m Erling Haaland… but have you ever seen us in the same room together? 🤔🐶🇳🇴
Hair ✔️ Jersey ✔️ Paws crossed ✔️
Heia Haaland! Heia Norge! ❤️🤍💙
(AI-generated, real Charlie approved.)

@erling

#HeiaNorge #HeiaHaaland #ErlingBrautHaaland #WorldCup2026 #NorwayVsEngland by @chardoodlebear

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3 months ago

It’s been one year since we said goodbye to you, Ted.

Sometimes it feels like yesterday. Sometimes it feels like a lifetime ago. Like a different life entirely; one that shattered suddenly, and I can only glimpse it now, as if through a window, no longer mine to step back into.

I still look for you in the quiet moments: in your favourite spots around the house, in the rearview mirror on drives, at my feet while I’m cooking. I listen for your bossy barking at mealtime and your soft snoring that lulled me to sleep at night. You made our house feel whole just by being in it.

Our little vintage boy, you had been through so much before you came to us. We thought we were bringing home a senior for a quiet, comfortable retirement.

But you had other plans.

You came to life. You loved life. You moved through the world with this energy and joy that felt contagious; excited about everything, soaking up every moment, as if you knew just how special it all was.

And somehow, despite everything your little body was carrying, you never lived like something was wrong. You only knew how to be here, how to love, and how to keep going.

You were so strong. So resilient.

And in your own quiet way, you taught us that too — what it means to keep showing up, to choose joy anyway, to keep going even when things are hard. At a time when we needed it most, you were our example.

It’s been a year of things you would have loved:
A new fish recipe from Dog Standards. Fish!
A new neighbourhood dog park you never got to run in.
So much snow.
A road trip and dog-friendly hotel you would’ve owned.

A year of seasons changing without you in them.
A year of walks and movie nights that felt quieter without you.
A year without you waking us up at night for snacks. (Charlie woke us up for a week after you left us. I think he found nights without you lonely and sad.)

And Benjamin joining our family… which, somehow, I think you had a hand in. ✨

There isn’t a day I don’t miss you. Not just in the big ways, but in all the small, ordinary moments that used to be ours. (Living room dance parties aren’t the same without you. Remember this song?)

I will love you forever. And longer if I can. 🤍 by @chardoodlebear

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7 months ago

How’d they do? (Especially our Benny-to)

#badbunnybowl #badbunnygrass #benito #halftimeshow2026 @badbunnypr by @chardoodlebear

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7 months ago

13 years old today.
13 years of gentle, patient, loyal, loving, goofy you.
You’ve been through everything with us.
13 years of being our quiet strength; the one that holds us all together.
Today we celebrate the softest, most empathetic, wise (but also derpy) soul.
So grateful for you.
Happy Birthday to our best boy, Charlie ❤️🐾
Swipe left for puppy Char.

#hbd #13 #ourfirstbaby #birthdayboy by @chardoodlebear

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9 months ago

Homesick for a dog I won’t see again in this life. Grateful I got to love him this deeply and he is mine to miss.

This isn’t the best quality video, but it’s such a core memory. When Ted first came home, he’d stare at Charlie sitting on the couch with us. We thought maybe he couldn’t jump up, so we’d lift him onto the couch, but he’d tremble and jump right back down. We never really knew why he was afraid.

And then, slowly, as he felt safe, the couch became one of his favourite spots. He loved snuggling between us.

I loved coming home to find him napping there. He was a little hard of hearing, so sometimes he wouldn’t notice me at first. He’d continue snoring while I watched him and then I’d make a louder noise or tap him, and he’d wake up, come say hi and make his little stretchies.

#souldog #petlossgrief #homesick by @chardoodlebear

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10 months ago

I smashed my 2025 goals! What about you?
#2025goals #newyearsameme by @chardoodlebear

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10 months ago

Christmas wish. ✨

#petloss #petlossofinstagram #petlossgriefsupport #grief #loss by @chardoodlebear

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10 months ago

A map of love. This was Ted’s journey home. Ted’s road to us was paved with kindness. 1 transport coordinator, 18 volunteer drivers (driving 26 legs and two sleepovers), a loving foster in Michigan, and a pet transport company that helped him cross the border (during COVID) where we picked him up and brought him home — 2,123 miles (3417 km) of pure love.

This journey still moves us. It’s proof of what’s possible when people come together for one little soul.

And their love didn’t stop at the transport. So many of the volunteers who helped along the way continued to love and check in on Ted while he was with us; and continue to check in on us today. 🥹

We are forever grateful to everyone who helped bring Ted home. Thank you. ❤️🐾

#seniorrescue #journeyhome #takemehome #petloss #petlossgrief #souldog #volunteers #belikejosh

@aliegrl @debbieeileen @elianenotah @baylor_bear_doodle @maxsandraromero @ingridstockwell @lizfleming796 @glb9331 @jk_murphy_ @ashanks23 @kristenrmanda @jhohm5 @danielhohm @alarsonx7 @lickliterstahl @mlflemin1 @whiskeyisthename @jodi_r_burmeister @jenmartin14 @tdpratt1 by @chardoodlebear

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a year ago