“Charles”, the K&FT Therapy Dog

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An Important Update from Charles

The K&FT Team is reaching out to share some difficult news about Charles, the division’s beloved therapy dog and favorite furry staff member. Charles has recently been diagnosed with cancer. He’s in the process of undergoing several treatments such as anti-inflammatory medication and targeted chemotherapy, which will help slow the progression. With these measures, Charles’ life expectancy is somewhere between 2 to 6 months.

Charles has been with K&FT since 2017. Around the office, he can often be found greeting visitors, making new friends, offering support in therapy sessions for kids and adults, and bringing a smile to the face of anyone who interacts with him. Charles has lived a long and meaningful life – he recently turned 9 in February, and the average lifespan for his breed (Bernese Mountain Dog) is 7-8 years. Throughout his many years of service, he has offered countless hours of support, comfort, and joy to our clients, staff, and community members. Charles truly embodies the PathPoint and K&FT values of compassion, excellence, wellness, and collaboration.

Over the next few months, the utmost priority is to ensure that Charles continues to be happy, comfortable, and loved. He will continue working as long as he wants to, and our team will continue to check in with updates.

Thank you for being a part of our organization’s “loving village” and for walking alongside K&FT and Charles during our rainy days. We are honored to have been a part of Charles’ life for the past 8 years and are even more humbled to think of the immense impact that he has made in the lives of many children, parents/caregivers, and families. Our team is in the process of compiling a Memory Book for Charles. If you have a special memory, message, and/or picture that you’d like to contribute, please do so by clicking on the button below! We ask that all submissions be made by April 21st.

Click here to contribute to Charles’ Memory Book

Resources

“Helping Children Cope with the Serious Illness or Death of a Companion Animal”

– The Ohio State University Veterinary Medical Center

“Children in Grief: Understanding their Journey” – Coleen Ellis

“The Invisible Leash” by Patrice Karst (link to purchase the book) – copies also available at the K&FT office

 

Charles’ Story

Charles is an AKC (American Kennel Club) certified Canine Good Citizen. Charles has passed the required temperament evaluations, received the proper training, and has been a certified therapy dog through Love on a Leash since November 2017.

A therapy dog is different from a service dog. Service dogs are trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability. A therapy dog’s job is to bring comfort and joy to those in need. Charles loves making new friends and helping them feel comfortable sharing their stories with him. He lets people know how special he thinks they are and how loved they are; sometimes people forget this. Charles is social, affectionate, and a great co-therapist!

FAQs about Charles

What breed is he? Bernese Mountain Dog

Do all Bernese Mountain Dogs look like him? Yes. They all have this same coloring; however, most have a little more white on their paws and the tip of their tails (Charles only has 3-4 white hairs on his tail).

How much does he weigh? 115 lbs.

What’s his birthday? February 3, 2016

What is Charles’ adoption story? Charles was adopted in Spring 2016 when he was just eight weeks old. When his parents brought him home, everything was new and different. He was a little scared and really missed his birth mom. Over time, he quickly learned how much his parents love him, so he started to relax, feel safe, and trust them.

How many brothers and sisters does he have? Charles’ litter had six boys and four girls.

What are his parents names? Charles’ mom’s name is Shay, and dad’s name is Zodiac. His maternal grandmother’s name is River.

Where is he from? Charles was born in Laguna Hills and raised in Ventura.

Does he shed? YES!

Does he drool? Not much. Unless you stick some food in his face!

What does he like to do for fun? Cuddle, go for hikes, play at the beach, get belly rubs, take naps, give high fives, play tug-of-war, and make new friends.

Does he eat a lot? He eats about 3 cups of food a day.

Will he bite me? Never. If you are playing with a toy with him, he may accidentally put his mouth on your hand but will let go immediately when he realizes his mistake.

What tricks/commands does he know? Sit, down, here, drop, leave it, stay, wait, back up, high five, and always learning more!