Charlie NEEDS Sponsors This handsome boy is Charlie. Charlie is a great dog who's been through a lot. Charlie is a beautiful rottweiler mix, but he didn’t always look like this! He was found on the streets and taken to a shelter. He was nothing but skin and bones from having to fend for himself. A man named Diego picked him up from the shelter and took him to a rescue. There were people willing to sponsor Charlie, and the rescue knew what to do to fatten him up and get him healthy again. You can see from his pictures what a great job they did. They hoped they would be able to soon find a forever home for him. While he was at the rescue Charlie stayed in a kennel, except for when his new friend came to visit him. Three times a week Diego would take him out on hikes. Charlie loved these walks. At first Charlie did fine being confined to a kennel. After awhile, though, he became quite irritable and started showing cage aggression and developed food aggression. The rescue felt he had become too unpredictable and no longer wanted to keep him there. But since Charlie had people willing to finance him, he was moved to another kennel area. Since this kennel was further away, his friend, Diego, could only visit him once or twice a month, instead of two or three times a week. Someone else agreed to take him out for walks in between visits from Diego. And that’s when Charlie’s troubles began. On one outing, his leash wrapped around his legs. This frightened him because on his very first hike with Diego, Charlie got caught in a trap, similar to a small bear trap. He wasn’t seriously hurt, but it was a very traumatic experience for him. After that, anything getting tangled up with his feet frightened him. When the lady bent down to undo the leash, Charlie snapped at her! Thankfully he didn’t hurt her. He only caught her jacket with his teeth. But, after that she would not volunteer to walk Charlie any more, so he ended up spending even more time confined to his kennel. The head of the rescue went to visit him. When she saw his cage aggression first hand, she said he was not adoptable and wanted Charlie put down. Deigo stepped in to defend Charlie and pleaded with her on his behalf. Sure Charlie has issues. He’s a rescue dog that was a stray. He has to learn to trust people again. Since his sponsors were willing to continue supporting him, she agreed to give him another chance. Unfortunately, there was a second incident at that kennel when Charlie bit a woman (twice) over a toy she tried to take away from him. This time, he did some damage and she had to go to the hospital to have puncture wounds treated! He was moved into quarantine for ten days. Charlie was in trouble again, and absolutely could not stay at the rescue any longer ... and this time he was facing euthanasia! Diego fought for more time for Charlie. He was able to get the head of the rescue to give him time to find another place for Charlie, but he was no longer welcome at their kennels. Diego would have to find somewhere for Charlie quickly. After the quarantine was over, Diego arranged to spend more time with Charlie again, walking with him every other day. And Charlie responded to the attention. Diego says that Charlie has never shown him any aggression. He knows that if you show Charlie respect and love, over time he’ll learn to trust you and will give you love back. He is not a dog that becomes your friend after a two minute visit. He needs time to get to know you and decide if he can trust you. Charlie hasn’t been given many chances in his life. First he was abandoned to fend for himself and then confined to a kennel. The kennel environment does not work for him. He needs space to move around and activities to keep him from getting bored and angry. He needs a special person to give him love and attention. Everytime Charlie would see his friend coming he’d begin his happy dance. Then he’d sit, shuffling his feet until his collar was on, and away they’d go! Diego believes that in the right environment, all of  Charlie’s aggression and unpredictable behavior will go away. Lucky for Charlie he was rescued just in the nick of time! First, he was rescued off the streets. Then from the shelter. And a third time because his new friend, Diego, refused to give up on him and let him become just another statistic! Diego found Smiling Dog Farms here in Wharton, Texas and contacted us to see if we could make room for one more dog. Of course, we said “YES”. Charlie’s supporters have raised the funding to build him a great two-level townhome with a covered “patio” and large play yard where he’ll have plenty of room to run and play. Here at our sanctuary, Charlie will be cared for with love and patience. He can just be himself, with no more worries. Smiling Dog Farms Giving hope to the forgotten, neglected & rejected... P.O. Box 743 Wharton, TX 77488 Home / Contact Us Back to Main List Be a Donor Make a One-time Donation *The selected amount will billed to your credit card each month via PayPal.  You may cancel at any time. Charlie NEEDS Sponsors! You can help put a happy smile on Charlie’s face by helping with his monthly expenses. He will be delighted to send you big sloppy kisses and hugs if you would consider sponsoring him or making a one-time donation in his name. A 501(c)3 Non-Profit Corporation                                                Smiling Dog Farms is Absolutely, Unequivocally NO-KILL!!! Charlie sends hugs and sloppy kisses to his Friends who have contributed on his behalf: • Mitchell W.