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Charley Johns - 2007/2008 to August 17th 2011 - <3

7K views 33 replies 32 participants last post by  tie-dye hedgie 
#1 ·
:cry:

It is with a heavy heart that I bring news to you all of Charley's passing. He passed some time between his last feeding at 10am and 12pm this afternoon, snug in his hedgie stocking from Nikki and warm on his heating pad in the comfortable darkness of his cage. This is not a surprise, but it is still a shock of sorts because there was always the hope that there would be a miracle and he would pull through somehow. Hope can be a very painful thing.

Charley is survived by his adopted hedgie brothers Mac & Dougie, and his feline cousins Jack & Shelby. He leaves behind a hedgie-mommy and hedgie-daddy who loved him very much. I don't think my son is quite old enough to grasp the concept of death, but I know this will affect him as he cared for Charley too.

He will be laid to rest beside another beloved family pet who passed earlier this year and as soon as I can find one, he will have a marker above his resting site. As death is necessary for rebirth, so will Charley be laid to rest in the arms of the Earth and escorted across the Rainbow Bridge by his fellow creatures on his way to a life free of illness and pain, where treats are plentiful, and it is always warm and safe.

For those who did not know, Charley has been sick for the past several weeks, and I suspect he suffered a stroke, and combined with a confirmed URI and a case of mites it was just too much for him. There may have been other factors that contributed to his passing, and I have weighed the option of a necropsy and determined that it would be more than I can handle right now.

Charley was approximately three years old, though he could have been close to four. He came to my family from a pet store who estimated his age at one year but did not know for sure, and we brought him home in late 2008.

Please say a prayer or send positive energies to Charley's spirit as he makes the transition and leaves this life behind.

Rest in Peace my darling, you have been my best friend and no one could ask for anything more than you and your love.

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#29 ·
I am so sorry for your loss! I was following Charley's thread every day, so very much hoping for improvement. And then I see this thread...

You both fought so hard. SO hard... really, I can't imagine anyone ever being able to provide better care for him or do a better job of trying to make him better than you did.

Hugs to you. Rest in peace Charley.
 
#32 ·
The last few weeks were a testament to Charley (and to everyone) how much you love him. You were a great friend and protector to him, and I know he knew that. Take comfort in knowing that those who get to go to the next stop are happy, it's just hard for those of us still here waiting to graduate. Sending positive thoughts and prayers your way (and Charley's, but I'm sure he's too busy inhaling a never-ending supply of non-chub-inducing mealies to notice ;) ), know we are all here to support you!

Also, as is my tradition, I donated to a local rescue (in this case, my local exotics rescue, who is currently rehabilitating a rescued hedgie-- I requested the funds go directly to his care) in honor and celebration of Charley. God bless.
 
#33 ·
I'm so sorry. I've been following his thread everyday and I truely believed that he was going to make it. Because of that I was greatly sadened when I saw the title of this thread. He was a fighter, it was just his time. He doesn't have to suffer anymore and he passed on knowing how much he was loved. Take care of yourself, its really hard losing a loved one.
 
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