Saturday, September 12, 2026
63.0°F

The original big dog

BILL BULEY | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 5 years, 2 months AGO
by BILL BULEY
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

Teen remembered for love of school buses
September 12, 2026 1:05 a.m.

Teen remembered for love of school buses

Bay Shore Systems in Rathdrum helped with renovation project
Hagadone Communications honors longtime employees
August 28, 2026 1 a.m.

Hagadone Communications honors longtime employees

Hagadone Communications honors longtime employees

Employees came from several divisions: Blue 541; Bonner County Daily Bee, The Coeur d'Alene/Post Falls Press, Columbia Basin Publishing; Hagadone Hawaii, Hagadone Media and Creative, Quicksilver Studios and Hagadone Montana Publishing.