Charley Lhasa

FRANK & LYA

Charley meets up with his longtime friends @fraanks-blog​ and Lya at Bethesda Fountain in Central Park 9 years ago today, September 13, 2013, Central Park, Manhattan, NYC

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(Source: Flickr / charleylhasa)

ONE THIS DAY

Charley visits Turtle Pond in Central Park 9 years ago today, August 5, 2013, Central Park, Manhattan, NYC

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(Source: Flickr / charleylhasa)

SEVENTEEN

Charley was born 17 years ago today on Tuesday, May 31, 2005 in Olympia, Washington. He would have been 17 years old today, but passed away August 4 of last year, a few months after his 16th birthday. He lived a long, happy, joyful life, experiencing new adventures every day and making friends wherever he went. He loved people, dogs, cats and other animals. He loved riding the subway in his travel bag and getting out at some unexplored destination — a park, store, or neighborhood — as much as returning to places he knew well. I miss him a little bit more every day and think of him throughout the day. I always stop for a moment at 7:06 pm, which is the time he went to sleep for the last time, and will never wake from. I’m glad I was able to have him in my life, making every day richer, happier and more fun than it would have been without him. 

I still plan to have another dog once I find a place better suited to having a dog. No one can replace him, but there are still some places unexplored by Charley that can still be discovered. 

These photos were taken on Charley’s first birthday on May 31, 2006. They were the first photos of him using studio lighting equipment. I took his portrait like this twice ever year throughout most of his life — on his birthday in May and again for the holidays at the end of December. His appearance changed slightly throughout the years, but he looked remarkably the same and his positive, outgoing, friendly and confident personality never wavered or changed. He was always Charley his entire life. 

The second photo became Charley’s avatar across all social media up to this day, starting with Flickr years ago. The cake was custom made. The cookie was made just for dogs and he loved it, as seen in the last two photos. Upper West Side Manhattan, NYC

Nikon D2X | Nikkor 85mm f/1.4D | Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8G

BAGEL BARK

Charley plays with Einstein the Lhasa Apso and Oscar the Pug at the Bagel Bark. Einstein is a Lhasa Apso and was two-and-a-half years old at the time. Oscar is a Pug and longtime friend of Charley’s.

Charley attends an early-morning offleash Bagel Bark at The Pool in Central Park 8 years ago today, May 3, 2014, The Pool, Central Park, Manhattan, NYC

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(Source: Flickr / charleylhasa)

FIRST BLOOM

Charley visits the first bloom of the cherry blossoms in Central Park 9 years ago today, April 17, 2013, Central Park, Manhattan, NYC

iPhone 5 | Adobe Lightroom

(Source: Flickr / charleylhasa)

PARADE

Charley watches the St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Fifth Avenue 16 years ago today, March 17, 2006, Upper East Side, Manhattan, NYC

Charley loved parades. This was the first one he attended. He would go to many more in the coming years.

Sony Ericsson T637

PJ

Charley greets his longtime friend PJ the Poodle during early-morning off-leash hours in Central Park 8 years ago, March 1, 2014, Central Park, Manhattan, NYC

Charley ran into his old friend PJ the Poodle, who was the same age as Charley. PJ was born in July and Charley was born in May of 2005. They were both 8 years old in this photo. PJ was exploring the area around the Great Lawn with his dad Peter during off-leash hours in Central Park of 6 AM – 9 AM. Charley also met a large gathering of other dogs who were socializing with other dogs and their owners. Charley made several new friends and had fun running around with them without having to wear a leash. PJ sadly passed away several years before Charley. PJ developed diabetes some time after this photo was taken and required insulin injections. I believe this was actually the last time they saw one another. They were good friends and got along quite well. Central Park, Manhattan, NYC

Individual photo captions:

1. PJ looks up at his dad Peter, who carried small treats that he used for positive reinforcement. PJ was very smart, friendly and well-behaved.
   
2. PJ chews a treat from his dad Peter.
   
3. A Shih Tzu meets a larger dog.
   
4. Dogs and their owners gather during early-morning off-leash hours near the Great Lawn.
   

Apple iPhone 5s | Adobe LIghtroom

(Source: Flickr / charleylhasa)

CHERRY TREES

Charley visits the cherry trees by the reservoir in Central Park 9 years ago, February 20, 2013, Central Park, Manhattan, NYC

Charley visits the cherry trees on the west side of the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir in Central Park. It will be a few more months until the cherry blossoms begin to bloom. Charley can’t wait. The cherry blossoms were an annual tradition for Charley. He never missed visiting them several times while they were in bloom every spring. Central Park, Manhattan, NYC

Ricoh GR Digital IV | Ricoh GW-2 | Adobe Lightroom

(Source: Flickr / charleylhasa)

BLIZZARD

Charley ventures out into his first big snowstorm twice in one day 16 years ago, February 12, 2006, Central Park, Manhattan, NYC

Charley goes out into the snow at 9 AM and again at 2:30 PM later the same day. The snow was over his head. The snowfall total in Central Park was 26.9 inches, the most ever in NYC up to that time. 11 inches of snow fell in Central Park from 7 to 10 AM. Charley’s first walk of the day was during the heaviest rate of snowfall. His face was caked with ice! He didn’t wear any shoes in the snow — he made a big enough fuss just about wearing the snowsuit. He had such a thick coat of his own, he never really got cold nor needed an additional coat. The snowsuit was really just to make it easier for me to dry him off afterwards. He did not wear the snowsuit on his 9 AM walk, but did wear it on his 2 PM walk. He only wore his snowsuit this one time, when we had a blizzard. He loved the snow — the more, the better!

Individual photo captions:

1–2. Charley 9 AM walk. Snow is over his head!
3. West 89th snowfall
4. Charley is ready for another walk in the snow
5–6. Charley 2 PM walk in the dreaded snowsuit
7. Charley back inside
8. Back inside
9. 26.9 inches of snow. Most snowfall ever in New York City
10. 11 inches of snow fell in Central Park from 7–10 AM

Sony Ericsson T637

(Source: Flickr / charleylhasa)

SNOWSUIT

Charley gets ready for his first big snowstorm 16 years ago today, February 12, 2006, Upper West Side, Manhattan, NYC

Charley gets ready to go outside in a snowstorm for the first time. He tries on his older brother Spike’s snowsuit, but it looks a size too small for Charley. Charley much prefers a loose-fitting coat that is more his size. He did wear the small snowsuit out into the snow, which kept him fully covered all over. He had a wonderful time running around in the snow and came back inside to thaw out.

Individual photo captions:

1. Charley gets ready for his first big snow
   
2. Charley glares at me from the back of the closet. He’s mad because I put a snowsuit on him
   
3. Charley hates his snowsuit
   
4. Charley is miserable in his snowsuit
   
5. Charley is much happier wearing this loose-fitting coat
   
6. Snowstorm through window
   
7. Spike’s old snowsuit seems a bit too small for Charley!
   
8. Charley thaws out after running around outside in his first big snowstorm
   

Nikon D2X | Nikkor 85mm f/1.4D

(Source: Flickr / charleylhasa)

BAGEL BARK!

Charley attends an early morning Bagel Bark 9 years ago today, February 2, 2013, Grate Field, Central Park, Manhattan, NYC

Charley meets up with his longtime pal Beija and her parents at the monthly Bagel Bark in Central Park 9 years ago this morning. It was a very cold and sunny morning. Charley had a wonderful time and met many new friends. He loved these Bagel Barks during early morning off-leash hours in Central Park. They were held monthly in different areas of the park and he rarely missed one.

Individual photo captions:

1. Bagel Bark!
   
2. Charley rushes to get to the Bagel Bark on time
   
3. Charley sees so many new dogs — who to say hello to next?
   
4. Charley greets his longtime pal Beija and her parents
   
5. Charley greets his longtime pal Beija and her parents
   

Apple iPhone 5 | Adobe Lightroom

(Source: Flickr / charleylhasa)