Charlie, our golden retriever, made us better people

Having grown up in East Meadow with two cats, Bonnie and Clyde, I never thought I would be a dog owner. People spoke about their dogs as if they were their children, and I would just smirk to myself.

After 16 years of marriage, my husband and I thought 2004 was the year to go “look” at a few golden retriever puppies from a breeder. We fell in love with one and were asked to come back when he was 8 weeks old.

We wanted to surprise our children, aged 7 and 11, because they constantly asked for a dog. The day we picked up Charlie, he instantly became part of our family. He went everywhere with us. All the children and adults in our neighborhood in Massapequa loved him as much as we did. He hung out on the front lawn or walked with us around the block. We spent summer vacations on Fire Island with our kids and Charlie. He loved being on our cabin cruiser and walking the docks at Atlantique, Seaview and Watch Hill. People would stop by our boat just to pet Charlie.

When people came to our front door, Charlie greeted them with not one but two tennis balls in his mouth and his tail wagging. He had a touching connection with my 89-year-old mom. He would cry and stay by her side every time she came over. He was there for every backyard party, pasta party and graduation party. Every friend my children would bring home fell in love with Charlie.

We watched Charlie grow from an active puppy to a gray-faced older dog over 12 years.

Despite having surgery for a torn ligament on his left hind leg in 2014, and stomach surgery this past Christmas, Charlie lived a healthy, wonderful life.

We took Charlie to the veterinarian the morning of Jan. 22 because he was not eating or walking. To our shock, we found out he had a tumor and fluid surrounding his heart. He had just hours to live. We had no choice but to euthanize him. It was surreal, because the day before he was outside running and playing with his tennis ball.

SEE PHOTOSJimmy Margulies cartoons

It was one of the saddest days of my life. Charlie gave my family so much love and joy. I cannot help but smile every time I think of him.

Charlie made us all better people. My children learned the responsibility of taking care of an animal. They walked him, played with him and picked up after him — not just when he was a cute puppy, but up until his last birthday, when his walks were shorter and breathing heavier. Charlie taught us patience. A dog’s love is one you don’t know until you actually have one.

I now smirk to myself and think, I did become one of those dog people, and I am so happy I did.

Reader Christine Re lives in Massapequa.