Charlie the Schnoodle, aka “CD” for Charlie Dog, “LD” for Little Dog and King Charles,  passed into the great dog park in the sky on Friday, 22 days shy of his 17th birthday.    

Born to a Schnauzer and a Poodle, Charlie beat out pure breeds to win the hearts of his master and family members, Brad, Bruce and Ann Wlazelek of Upper Macungie Township, who purchased him from the former Whitehall Mall pet shop. 

At the time, the weeks-old puppy appeared mostly white and scruffy with not enough fur covering his body.  He easily fit inside a guinea pig cage but proved cunning and agile enough to jump out.    

Brad named him, saying he “looked like a Charlie,” and taught him all his tricks, including sit, lay, roll over, talk, shake … and our favorite: peek-aboo! 

In no time, Charlie grew into a handsome, 12-pound, “apricot” colored dog admired by passersby. Cars would stop and people would ask, “What kind of dog is that? Is he good with children? “    

He provided endless love, fun and entertainment to the Wlazeleks. 

We’ll never forget how high he could jump to catch a ball or a treat, his “mad dog” routine racing around the family room, how he ate a whole box of chocolates, lifting each carefully out of its compartment without dumping the box, then threw up on our white rug, or the time he “stole” Bruce’s bagel and ran upstairs to hide and eat it under our bed.     

Charlie loved the park, neighborhood dogs, Pup-eroni treats and mini-marshmallows.  We owe his longevity to the fact that he walked at least twice a day every day until his last few days on Earth.  He was the best pet a family could have. We will miss him always.