Charlie Before

We barely have the words. Charlie came to us only a year ago, having been abused every day of his life. They called us about him admittedly because he was too weak to walk to the riverbed a short distance away, and they didn’t want him dying on their property. He could barely walk, wobbled really, into our trailer…and we held our collective breath the whole way home. He emerged and stayed a gentleman, a real class act of a horse who reminded us …daily why we were called to save and serve in the first place. Without a hint of entitlement, Charlie faced every day with elegance, gratitude and courage. He stole our hearts and fueled our daily commitment to serve the desperate and deserving horses who are counting on us to be here…help them…and fight to protect their precious lives. While he had been betrayed in perhaps one of the most disgusting and disrespectful ways, he demonstrated forgiveness and a joy for the present. Our dear Charlie succumbed to a fatal colic, after our dear vet exhausted every possible effort within her power to save him. He remained gracious, grateful, and a gentleman throughout what we know was unimaginable pain, and seemed to thank us for his life and our mercy as we said our final loving words to him. Charlie died in our arms a wanted horse, and left us with the dignity that he deserved and that he claimed on that fateful day only one short year ago. At Red Bucket we fight for our horses’ lives, and their absolute right to have their lives protected and valued. As is our custom, we will say a final good-bye on Saturday, October 29th at 5:00 pm at his stall. His friends and family are all welcome to join us in both our grief and in celebrating our beloved and treasured friend, our horse Charlie.