Char

Make it stand out

“In loving memory of my Char, who passed peacefully on July 30, 2025, and has now joined her Grammy in the next life. Charshine, a nickname I gave her because her light was brighter than the sun, had a not-so-great start to life in El Paso, and, through what I can only deem fate, she showed up on my screen when her dad and I decided to adopt from PRA in Fall 2020. Heaven sent, yes, she was! As soon as we picked her up at her foster mom’s home and got in the car to start our visit, I can honestly say we knew this little senior lady was ours. Have you ever met a soul that just captures your heart? Char knew how to turn a frown upside down —from her howls at me when I got home from running errands to spoiling her dad with kisses all over his face — Char exuded an energy you couldn't ignore. Even when her cancer diagnosis came in 2024, my nugget persevered, and I was in awe of her strength and resilience through surgeries and treatments. Was she spoiled? In short, yes, but she deserved every treat, toy, road trip, beach day, birthday celebration, and belly rub I had to give. What do I miss? Our midday dances together, and when she would yawn in my face if I wasn’t telling her something she wanted to hear—yes, she did that. I am grateful to PRA for the work they do and for bringing what I can only describe as pure joy into my life.

You are my Charshine, my only Charshine, you make me happy when skies are gray. You just don’t know dear, how much I love you. Please don’t take my Charshine away.”

— Crystal Cantu