A while back, when Kelly O’Connell was working at an animal shelter, a 12-week-old black lab named Charlie was brought in after being found in a shopping cart. Kelly wasn’t looking for a dog at that time, but… “He came in, and I was like, ‘Yup. I’m taking this puppy home,’” Kelly said.

As time went by, Kelly met James Garvin, and they fell in love. Kelly and James (both veterinarians) got married this September, and they wanted 15-year-old Charlie to be there. Sadly, Charlie had been diagnosed with a brain tumor earlier this year, and he was very weak. He had 5 seizures the week before the wedding, and Kelly was getting ready to put him down.

Then suddenly, the week of the wedding Charlie had no seizures. He “seemed like a whole new dog,” O’Connell said. And guess what? He DID make it down the aisle. But he couldn’t make it back… That was when Kelly’s sister picked him up and carried him. The moment was so emotional, everyone burst in tears. “James and I just grabbed onto him, and we just kept saying, ‘You made it, buddy, you made it,’” Kelly said.

A bit over a week later (September 9th), Charlie was put down. He died peacefully, in front of the fireplace at home and surrounded by his loving family. “It was a phenomenal 15 years. That’s for sure,” Kelly said.

More info: Facebook (h/t)

15 years ago someone found a black lab abandoned in a shopping cart outside a grocery store and brought it into a shelter where Kelly O’Conell was working

Kelly wasn’t looking for a dog at that time, but… “He came in, and I was like, ‘Yup. I’m taking this puppy home.’”

As time went by, Kelly met James Garvin, and they fell in love. They were getting married this September and wanted 15-year-old Charlie to be there more than anything

Sadly, Charlie had been diagnosed with a brain tumor earlier this year, and he was very weak… He had 5 seizures the week before the wedding

Then suddenly, the week of the wedding Charlie had no seizures. He “seemed like a whole new dog,” O’Connell said

And guess what? He DID make it down the aisle. But he couldn’t make it back…

That was when Kelly’s sister picked him up and carried him

Kelly said she could “see it in his eyes” that Charlie held on in his final days just for her – “I think he was really happy to be there”

September 9th Charlie was put down. He died peacefully, in front of the fireplace at home and surrounded by his loving family. “It was a phenomenal 15 years. That’s for sure,” Kelly said

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