The original big dog
BILL BULEY | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 4 years, 6 months AGO
Charlie, surrendered to KHS on Saturday, weighs 206 pounds.
Bill Buley covers the city of Coeur d'Alene for the Coeur d’Alene Press. He has worked here since January 2020, after spending seven years on Kauai as editor-in-chief of The Garden Island newspaper. He enjoys running. | June 22, 2021 1:00 AM
Kootenai Humane Society not only recently took in its most dogs ever from a single case, it also received its biggest dog yet this weekend.
Meet Charlie. All 206 pounds of him.
The 6-year-old Caucasian shepherd was surrendered by its owner on Saturday.
“It should probably be half that [weight],” said Vicky Nelson, KHS development director.
She said Charlie is healthy, despite being overweight, and is well-behaved and knows some commands. He does tend to shed a bit.
“Just a sweetheart of a dog,” she said.
According to the American Kennel Club, Caucasian shepherds weigh on average from 99 pounds to 170. So, Charlie is tipping the scales on the heavy side.
He hasn’t been fixed so is not yet available for adoption.
“And he can’t be fixed until he loses weight,” Nelson said.
The is the heaviest dog KHS has taken in.
“We had the most and now we have biggest,” Nelson said, laughing.
ARTICLES BY BILL BULEY
Companions Animal Center has adopted out nearly 2,000 dogs, cats in 2025
Companions Animal Center has adopted out nearly 2,000 dogs, cats in 2025
As if to prove it, signs on two kennel doors proclaim “I have been adopted! I’m currently waiting to be picked up by my new parents.” One is a timid black mastiff. But the shelter remains crowded. Monday, it has about 50 large dogs filling kennels, including in the new wing oped this year, and there is still a four-month waiting list with names of about 80 dogs that people are looking to surrender pets.
Post Falls man named director of ministry with global reach
Post Falls man named director of ministry with global reach
Grassi, a longtime hunter and fisherman, started what was originally called “Let’s Go Fishing Ministry, Inc.” with a focus on outdoors, men and God. It was later changed to “Men’s Ministry Catalyst." The emphasis was on helping men understand their role as defined in the Bible.
Nonprofit foundation helps family become homeowners for first time
Nonprofit foundation helps family become homeowners for first time
The Young Family’s Foundation launched about a year ago with a mission "to empower young, hardworking families to achieve the dream of home ownership. Even if a family saved $25,000, they would still be $19,000 short of the down payment needed to buy a $550,000 home, which is the median price in Kootenai County. It’s estimated that only about 20% of area households can afford to buy a home.