VIDEO
Watch Charlie and Ernie at play on the Monroe Times Facebook page.
MONROE - Dogs may be man's best friend, but for one Monroe puppy, they are dog's best friend, too.
Charlie, now 7 months old, seemed depressed after being adopted by Monroe resident Sherri Fiduccia last year.
"The other dogs could tell he had problems, that he was different, so they wouldn't play with him," Fiduccia said.
Charlie, a papillon-chihuahua-pomeranian mix, suffers from a rare degenerative neurological disorder that has rendered him unable to use all but one of his legs. Fiduccia said a veterinarian told her Charlie's disorder appears very similar to a canine version of Parkinson's disease, an incurable disorder of the central nervous system that gradually impairs movement.
Fiduccia said her three other dogs would not play with Charlie, who has difficulty standing without falling and who can only move by dragging his body along the ground with a single paw.
"He would never leave his room," Fiduccia said. "He needed stimulation."
However, Fiduccia realized that younger animals would be less hesitant to interact with Charlie after three kittens - Fiduccia keeps four house cats and several more barn cats - met Charlie.
With that in mind, Fiduccia decided to find Charlie a new friend.
With Charlie in tow, Fiduccia visited animal shelters, where she eventually picked a 2-month-old rat terrier-papillon hybrid that she named Ernie.
"It was a match made in heaven," Fiduccia said.
Ernie, a nearly preternaturally energetic puppy, was not put off by Charlie's disabilities and played with the older puppy every day, Fiduccia said.
Ernie's interaction with Charlie largely involves gently gnawing or tugging at his ears or paws or a sort of one-sided wrestling match. To the untrained eye, Charlie's demeanor appears merely resigned or tolerant of his hyperactive playmate, but Fiduccia said she could tell he was happier.
"He loves going outside now," Fiduccia said.
When outside, Charlie would use a wheeled harness to move around more effectively, because his paws find better purchase on the rough terrain than on the hardwood floors of his home. However, as Charlie's condition has deteriorated, Fiduccia said he is no longer able to use the wheels.
Charlie and Ernie also tend to attract a myriad of curious barn cats who are often willing to play with the two puppies.
Fiduccia, a longtime animal lover who was once on the board of the Green County Humane Society, said she was lucky to have found Charlie. When a friend of Fiduccia's posted about putting puppies up for adoption on Facebook, Fiduccia had initially picked a different puppy.
"I'm glad I changed my mind and picked Charlie, because I don't think anyone else would have cared for him," Fiduccia said.
Caring for Charlie is a difficult task. Fiduccia said she has to feed Charlie by hand - baby food and an unflavored electrolyte drink - and his means of locomotion means he requires more frequent bathing than other dogs.
Unfortunately, Charlie's condition will only deteriorate over time, as his disorder continues to degenerate his muscle control. Fiduccia noted that he was already having more difficulty standing steadily.
"He won't live as long as other dogs," Fiduccia said sadly. "All I can do is make him as comfortable as I can."
For now, though, Charlie appears content with the time he has, surrounded by friendly animals and a best friend to keep him company.
Charlie, now 7 months old, seemed depressed after being adopted by Monroe resident Sherri Fiduccia last year.
"The other dogs could tell he had problems, that he was different, so they wouldn't play with him," Fiduccia said.
Charlie, a papillon-chihuahua-pomeranian mix, suffers from a rare degenerative neurological disorder that has rendered him unable to use all but one of his legs. Fiduccia said a veterinarian told her Charlie's disorder appears very similar to a canine version of Parkinson's disease, an incurable disorder of the central nervous system that gradually impairs movement.
Fiduccia said her three other dogs would not play with Charlie, who has difficulty standing without falling and who can only move by dragging his body along the ground with a single paw.
"He would never leave his room," Fiduccia said. "He needed stimulation."
However, Fiduccia realized that younger animals would be less hesitant to interact with Charlie after three kittens - Fiduccia keeps four house cats and several more barn cats - met Charlie.
With that in mind, Fiduccia decided to find Charlie a new friend.
With Charlie in tow, Fiduccia visited animal shelters, where she eventually picked a 2-month-old rat terrier-papillon hybrid that she named Ernie.
"It was a match made in heaven," Fiduccia said.
Ernie, a nearly preternaturally energetic puppy, was not put off by Charlie's disabilities and played with the older puppy every day, Fiduccia said.
Ernie's interaction with Charlie largely involves gently gnawing or tugging at his ears or paws or a sort of one-sided wrestling match. To the untrained eye, Charlie's demeanor appears merely resigned or tolerant of his hyperactive playmate, but Fiduccia said she could tell he was happier.
"He loves going outside now," Fiduccia said.
When outside, Charlie would use a wheeled harness to move around more effectively, because his paws find better purchase on the rough terrain than on the hardwood floors of his home. However, as Charlie's condition has deteriorated, Fiduccia said he is no longer able to use the wheels.
Charlie and Ernie also tend to attract a myriad of curious barn cats who are often willing to play with the two puppies.
Fiduccia, a longtime animal lover who was once on the board of the Green County Humane Society, said she was lucky to have found Charlie. When a friend of Fiduccia's posted about putting puppies up for adoption on Facebook, Fiduccia had initially picked a different puppy.
"I'm glad I changed my mind and picked Charlie, because I don't think anyone else would have cared for him," Fiduccia said.
Caring for Charlie is a difficult task. Fiduccia said she has to feed Charlie by hand - baby food and an unflavored electrolyte drink - and his means of locomotion means he requires more frequent bathing than other dogs.
Unfortunately, Charlie's condition will only deteriorate over time, as his disorder continues to degenerate his muscle control. Fiduccia noted that he was already having more difficulty standing steadily.
"He won't live as long as other dogs," Fiduccia said sadly. "All I can do is make him as comfortable as I can."
For now, though, Charlie appears content with the time he has, surrounded by friendly animals and a best friend to keep him company.