Charlie’s Story: Adopting My Soul Pet

Charlie and I lying on my mom's bed. Photo taken by my mother. 

If there ever were a word to describe my relationship with my dog Charlie, it would be “soulmates”– she is my soul pet. It may sound silly, but any pet owner who has ever loved a pet like their own child would certainly know the feeling. 

It was July 2017, and my sisters and I were suffering the long, dull summer days that teenagers with no money often face. We’d been begging our mom to consider getting a dog, partly for our entertainment and partly because we had finally healed from the loss of Rex, our previous dog. 

Rex had passed away that spring, and we were pretty heartbroken about it. Our family adopted him when I was 4, and he lived a good 13 years with us. He was a wimpy little chihuahua mix with a cantankerous but sweet heart. As much as we loved his odd addition to our family, we knew that this time around, we wanted a dog who would be a little more energetic and interactive with us.

Our wish came true with Charlie. When our mom finally agreed to start the search for a new pup, my twin Lauren immediately hopped on shelter websites. While we knew we’d have to meet the dog in person to make sure it was a good fit, we figured we’d start somewhere. 

Not too long after she started the search, Lauren stumbled across Charlie’s page, originally named Lindseigh at the time– a name we all later agreed was a terrible choice for a dog. Lauren sent her profile to us, noting that she was a puppy pit bull mix with a spirited and loving energy. She’d come from accidental breeding, and her original family handed the puppies over to the shelter. Our family fell in love with her photo, her adorable, innocent eyes invited us to meet her. 

We submitted an application and visited the shelter within a few days. After filling out a rigorous questionnaire to ensure that we would be good pet parents — spoiler alert, we are — my family and I were introduced to Charlie. 

Charlie immediately ran up to us, not knowing who to greet first. She ran around in circles for quite a bit before decidedly settling on my mom, jumping on her and attacking her face with kisses. It took a while for her to finally calm down, and not without a few puppy-related accidents. After 20 minutes of socializing, the shelter was satisfied and allowed us to take her home. And from that moment on, Charlie became an essential member of our family.

Charlie on the car ride home from the shelter. Photo by author.

Charlie’s first year with us was a hectic ride. Admittedly, we were a bit in over our heads. While we had some experience raising a dog (with a cat-like temperament), we were not as prepared as we should’ve been for a puppy. Charlie peed everywhere, chewed everything, and was constantly looking for a fight. And let me tell you, there was nothing playful about those puppy teeth. 

We hired a trainer to help us with Charlie. While training should be a multi-day process, my family spent one hour with the trainer and decided it was not for us. My mom didn’t like how the trainer spoke to us and felt he was too condescending. I just thought the man was trying to teach us to teach Charlie! 

Never do what my family did. Training a dog is not supposed to be easy, and while we followed the rules and advice the trainer gave us, it would have been much easier if we had hired a different trainer or done more extensive research. 

That said, Charlie is the most perfect angel dog in the world. She quickly grew out of her puppy phase. In a year, she went from terrorizing my stuffed animals to politely dropping them when we told her to. 

While this seems like a small win, I was incredibly proud to watch my dog blossom into her sweet and intelligent self. I felt like a parent, watching my child mature from grabbing and mashing food to using a utensil. 

Charlie not only calmed in temperament, but she grew to be intelligent– smarter than anticipated because we didn’t train her. She learned to open the doors to our bedrooms, so door closing in our house is no longer an option. Charlie realized that if she barked at the back door, someone would come let her out. Most importantly, she learned to understand our facial cues, sensing when we’re sad and need a little kiss. She’s become an intuitive, supportive friend. 

Most dog owners brag about how smart and sweet their dog is, as they rightfully should. I’m no exception, and I show pictures of her to everyone I can. It’s an indescribable feeling to be so soulfully connected to an animal. 

I knew the bond with Charlie was special the first few days after we got her. It was just the two of us, hanging out in the sunroom, lazing on a hot summer day. We just lay there for hours, cuddling and playing with toys while I watched TV. I realized that as much as I love the dogs my dad owns, I’d never felt content just sitting there as much as I did with Charlie.

Charlie and I hanging out in the sunroom that day. Photo by author.

Hanging out with Charlie feels like hanging out with another family member. She has her own personality, facial expressions, and vocalizations. If she’s unhappy about something, she’ll tell you by barking and whining in your face. Or, on the other hand, if she’s thrilled to see you, she’ll cry and nuzzle your face. 

Charlie’s range of emotions and expressions make her one of the more special dogs I’ve been around. Of course, I’m a little biased. She’s my best friend, sister, and child, all wrapped up in a furry friend. I only want Charlie to comfort me when I’m sad, lonely, and bored. When I’m happy, I want to squeeze and play with her. She’s my go-to for everything, and I feel so incredibly privileged to have a soul pet as my own. 

She’s seven years old now and still lives in North Jersey with my mom. Living in Philadelphia, I feel the Charlie-shaped hole in my heart every single day. My moments with Charlie are limited, as I see her for a few days every month or so when I can. Regardless, I cherish them and make sure that my family sends me a photo of her at least once daily. Sometimes, we call, and she recognizes my voice on the phone. 

I wanted to share my story of adopting Charlie because I genuinely feel honored, blessed, and privileged to experience the incredible bond I have with her. It’s my hope that if anyone is feeling lonely or looking for some healing connection, adopting a pet might be something to consider.

Charlie doing some of the things she loves most: sunbathing, going for a car ride, and roasting in front of the fire. Photos by author.