charlie is the star of yelapa. ok so i'm at the disco and there's this basset hound cruising the dance floor. i'm all: whose dog is this? he was weaving around, milling about, hanging. 'oh, that's charlie - he just lives here'. ya. this dog just HANGS OUT. --sonja alhers (02/09/09)

hi charlie, like your tip on how to get the girls. wish i was with you so i could laze about in sun all day. will stay in touch. woof woof. -- max, aldeburgh, uk (02/28/09)

dear charlie, glad to see that you have survived another summer in moldy yelapa, and all your resident fleas too i'm sure. i wish blossom was there to share with you. -- byron, california, usa (02/28/09)

charlie, you made me laugh every time i saw you dragging your ears through sand and surf. you're the dog, dude. -- kathleen mckenzie, seattle, usa (03/01/09)

charlie, you look like a real "dude", can hardly wait to meet you and give you a belly rub! love your website too! -- rosie, west coast, canada (03/01/09)

i recently met charlie my second day in town on the trail right near the steps down to the beach. i was a little nervous at first but he looked so friendly and had that tube around his neck i started petting him and he ate it up. i showed his picture to my 4th grade students and now they love charlie. --tom dailey (03/01/09)

charlie is very photogenic and may have a career in film. having a good resume is important, but not essential. more important is not to bite the interviewer, or pee on the rug. --byron, california, usa (03/02/09)

miss you fella! see you in april.. --gavin, colorado, usa (03/04/09)

charlie blew my mind. i have NEVER met a dog like him before... he wasn't *personally* friendly - i called to him and tried to get his attention but he wasn't particularly interested. he's definitely a celebrity. he likes to be around people and be where the action is, and he likes to be seen... and very independent. actually, HE is where the action is! it makes me wonder who he was in his past life. someone very, very important. --sonja alhers (03/04/09)

about your video instructing allan - charlie, you know he is crazy, so never mind as long as he feeds you!! --digby, aldeburgh, uk (03/11/09)

hi charlie, we have not met yet but i know your friend allen, he came and partied at our place (the bentagain bar) last summer, and a little while after his daughter got married at our place, it was such a good time, i think you made the right decision on your "owner" he is a very nice guy! i dont imagine you will ever be up our way, so we will have to come see you soon, i have heard so much about you! i get to see your nephew willy once in a while so i will say hi to him for you! i will try to send you a picture of him, he is growing so fast but he's not tripping over his ears anymore like he did when we first met him! can you let allen know what my e-mail is please! i will keep in touch with you soon! living vicariously through you in cold ol canada! --ray, alberta, canada (03/23/09)

we loved charlie, but charlie only loved us for our tacos (and of course the bikini). -- leslie wagstaff (03/29/09)

charlie joined us for spanish school at yesi. no reflection on the teachers, but i bet charlie's spanish is better than mine. -- pat & deb polden (04/01/09)

i miss charlie already! we went pair-a-sailing and he told us when to land, take off, and he never begged for scraps! awesome dog! -- sasha, eden prairie, mn (04/04/09)

hi -- bob & pat hubbard, potzz old place, luna de miel (04/07/09)

hey charlie! nice to know that dogs like you exist! i'm planning on visitting yelapa next july... will you be there? me and my girlfriend would love to know of a place to do kayaking... do you know if there are any kayaks for rental? -- roberto, mexico city (04/10/09)

what a brilliant site! we love it. we are in the uk. charlie is a great lad. -- rebecca, uk (04/12/09)

cool dog! -- karen (04/14/09)

heidi luvs charlie -- heidi, encinitas, california (04/14/09)

charlie was at the lagunita all weekend at scott and lisa's wedding. he had (his guestbook) then. -- heidi, encinitas, california (04/14/09)

i think charlie's guest book is the greatest idea ever. every year i look for charlie. this year he seemed to know i missed brad's paloma and came over a couple of times to say hello. he would let me know he was there by plopping down and rolling on me. luckily i LOVE dogs and did not mind his sandy wet self. charlie, make sure you get a belly rub out of this email. -- sue harlan, quincy, california (04/15/09)

charlie hung out with all of us at hotel lagunitas most of last weekend - i think he even made it into some of the wedding photos! he had his guest book on him every time i saw him... i'm sure some pics will get posted of him at the wedding! charlie is awesome, we loved meeting him. -- joanne, redondo beach, california (04/17/09)

WOW!!!! talk about a dog's life. he was with all of us the whole week of the gorski's wedding. he even made an appearance during the ceremony; you know what i'm talking about for the friends that were there. he was a blast to have around. i'm sure he will be in some of the pics. -- anthony & rosanna bieszczat, las vegas, nv (04/19/09)

we loved charlie's friendliness! what a welcoming fellow! he greeted us on the beach and we all filled out his guest book. charlie, you ROCK!!! -- chris & katie deardorff (04/30/09)

charlie is here right now. he was walking down the path and anton invited him in. he walked up the stairs and the two of them are talking now. it's 4:30 friday afternoon. -- chris moses (05/01/09)

charlie, i was so glad to share your bed for the last two weeks. miss u loads. the girls love your photo. -- moira, england (05/02/09)

hey charlie, thank you soo much for joining us during our wedding from april 1st thru april 6th!! we were happy to have you stay w/us in our honeymoon suite. all of our family, friends and us included, are animal people and had to leave our horses, cats and dogs at home. it was as though you knew we missed our 4 legged friends and adopted us as your family. we love and miss you and hope to see you again next april 2010 for our 1 year anniversary. love, -- tambi & alex pearl, poway, ca (05/03/09)

our first day in yelapa, charlie greeted us and walked us into a chance meeting with sebastian who showed us where charlie lived. then we met cheryl who also helped us get our bearings. on friday, may 1st, charlie spent the entire day with us from 9:30 am until 5 pm. he guided us all the way to the big waterfall and then swam with us. thanks to charlie, we found the stairs to the pool. we took the hard way, only to find that charlie was already swimming when we got down. on the way back, we had to hurry, so that we would have time to make the water taxi. charlie kept up with us the entire way and followed us all the way home to aramara. after a cheese quesadilla, charlie found a cool spot on the floor while we packed. he then followed us to the pier and waited with us over an hour for the last water taxi at 5 pm. we were both sad to say goodbye to such a great host and guide. we can't wait to return to yelapa to see our favorite four legged friend again. he is truly an amazing dog (puppy at heart). -- mark & demis, seattle, wa (05/03/09)

thanks for keeping us company while we waited for our taxi, charlie!! xo -- natalie & brice, abbotsford, bc, canada (05/04/09)

charlie!!! i miss you, remember the night richard (RIP), chris moses, you and i smoked cigars, drank tequilla (we were out of raicilla) til the sun came up? to be done again!!! tell your pets cheryl and allen i said hello! ciao bello! xo -- lee arden lewis, pec, on, canada (05/08/09)

charlie, my brother peter cummings told me about you; you are absolutely AWESOME! -- ann inverso, houston, tx, usa (05/24/09)

charlie came by the first day we arrived, he came right in and made himself at home, great dog! -- terry & dawn, reno, nv (05/25/09)

WE ADORE CHARLIE!!! we got married at hotel lagunita on january 10th and fell in love with him. he even slept outside of our casita one night. please give him a squeeze for us. here are a few pictures ~ great job on the website! -- deb & shawn (05/26/09)

we saw charlie on the beach on may 25th, 2009 and wondered after reading the comments if there is a hotel in yelapas with air conditioning and didn't know or see a disco. i did hang out in front of chico's and ate and drank all day. can you suggest where we'd stay overnight when we return again. and we did sign the cool cylinder plastic container. -- doug & christina, houston, texas (05/30/09)

hey charlie! it's been too long....since halloween 2007. we miss you! so we're coming back. get your reindeer antlers ready, see you at christmas 2009. -- elizabeth & adam, san francisco, ca (06/02/09)

little charlie won my heart two years ago and i regailed my boyfriend with tales of the hound and showed him pictures of the two of us together. "jealous" doesn't begin to describe his reaction. we're returning in a couple months and i can't wait for my human bf to meet my canine bf. oh, charlie (*dreamy sigh*)! -- sam, texas, usa (06/05/09)

we are most certainly coming back to see charlie. fell in love with him and yelapa. -- clint & julie, austin, texas (06/12/09)

have just arrived home charlie ... thought you would like to know that we are safe and sound .... my daughter saskia cried as you guys said goodbye on the pier this morning ... no sunday .. its a long way home!!! thanks for sleeping over on our last night .. we feel priveleged. i hope that right eye of yours clears up ... get the "doc" to put some cream in it if not ... glad to have been of assistance taking out that sand ... charlie, hope you don't mind me saying but you may stand an even better chance with the chicks if you didnt shake your slobber all over them!!! missing you already ... my 3 babies were delighted to have me home and send big licks to you. xxx pics to come soon. xxx -- melissa, uk (06/15/09)

charlie really is known around the world. i was just telling someone about you, the next thing i know, there is a whole website about you! enjoy the surf buddy! -- rose smith, columbus, ohio (06/22/09)

dear humans of charlie, i heard about charlie and this site through a friend whose uncle has spent time in yelapa. i am a writer and a book editor, and i wonder if charlie has ever thought about writing a book --the wit and wisdom of yelapa charlie. i would love to help make that happen, if you're interested! feel free to contact me to discuss further. -- kelly notaras (mother of baxter, the king charles spaniel who wishes he lived like charlie), boulder, co (06/23/09)

i stayed in yelapa in june of 2006. charlie and another dog which, I called playa, stayed in my pelapa at isabel's every night. i think manzano got jealous. loved all the dogs there. i gave charlie a flea bath. probably hasn't had one since. i think it might be time, lova ya charlie -- journie, twin falls, id (07/10/09)

we didn't sign charlie's guestbook because we had no pen, but we took a bunch of pictures because he was so cool! thanks for giving us a tour of yelapa, charlie! -- corina (07/12/09)

hey there big boy! -- freckles, bethlehem, pa (07/16/09)

hi charlie, my name is andy and i live with my best friend bentley basset, who turned two on 04/13/09. today i went out and got my mail and read your story in dogfancy magazine and bentley and i feel so much love for you, and are so happy you are living the good basset life. when bentley was six months old, he and i were living in pennsylvania with my girlfriend elizabeth and her three daughters, tiffany(age-10),kaily(age 7) and katie (age 4) in a house that was set back in the woods about a mile from the main road. now, it was about a week before halloween and elizabth the girls and i each made our own jack-o-lantern, lit them and placed them on our front deck. shortly after we put the girls to sleep and she left to go to work (she is a nurse at the local hospital and had to work the graveyard shift), so bentley and i both went to sleep that night like normal and suddenly bentley jumped off my bed and ran out of my bedroom and was barking like i've never heard him bark before, he came running back in to my bedroom, jumped on my bed and bit the quilt and pulled it right off me and kept barking his little head off, and i got up in a panic wondering what was happening, still kind of confused from just waking-up. bentley looked me strait in the eye and ran out of the room towards the front door and i followed him thinking there was a person trying to break in my home, so i opened the front door and stepped-out clinching my fist , ready to punch somebody and as soon as i stepped out on the front pourch, i saw flames about six or seven feet high. the front deck was on fire and burning a hole directly through the wall of the house and on the other side of that wall was the girls room and kaily's bed was directly against that wall. i ran back inside and woke the girls up and got them having to carry little katie outside and the entire time, bentley was at my side. i called the fire department and elizabeth at the hospital, and after the firemen put the fire out, they told us that if not for bentley waking me up and getting all of us out, the girls and i would not be here today. we owe our lives to bentley, and even though elizabeth and i are not together anymore she still come with the girls once in a while to visit bentley and i, well probably more for bentley (lol), well anyhow, i just wanted to tell my story to you after reading yours, i know your somebody's and a lot of other people's best friend and now you know that bentley is elizabeth's, the girls and my best friend we'll ever have, i gotta tell ya man it's a basset thing! -- andy and bentley basset, chincoteague island, va (07/18/09)

charlie, saw your story in dog fancy and enjoyed it so very much. i had a gorgeous bassett, beulah, for 12 years and love your personalities, and your friendliness. you sound like the official greeter of yelapa. i was in yelapa in the 1980's and remember the hike to a water fall. you have to be the best thing to happen to yelapa's tourist biz!! you are a very handsome guy, wish i could give you a tummy rub as i just last week lost my dog lilly. i will read your page often to see what you are up to..hasta la vista charlie. your fan, -- olivia cobos-garcia, calabasas, ca via san diego (07/18/09)

i read about your beach life in dog fancy magazine and i immediately wanted to know more about you. sounds like a life of leisure suits you. i'm happy that you have a dad that loves you very much and all the visitors are nice and caring. have a great life. love, -- marty, los angeles, ca (07/19/09)

loved your article in sept dog fancy. archie, my basset loves your site, says he wants to be a beach bum when he grows up (he's 4 yo). i told him he already is, just without the beach. love those bassets, all the others are just dogs once you've been owned by a basset. charlie, you are an inspiration to us all. -- judy, fresno, ca (07/19/09)

hey, charlie. i read about you and your life on the island in dog fancy magazine. hey dude, there's nothing wrong with a "dog's" life. you've got it made! love for you to meet my basset hound, harry. you two could cruise the island like a couple of wild and crazy guys. i'm sure you both would be chick magnets. let us know. i'll just tag along and pick up pointers. -- tom hunter, concord, ohio (07/20/09)

yours is match made in heaven!! this pooch is so lovable and you can see it in his eyes. we love you charlie! i am sasha a black lab/shep mix who was also adopted. -- sasha, new jersey (07/20/09)

hi charlie. your a good looking guy . im four and i think you should be my forever man. snooters to you. -- angelanne, barbetone, ohio (07/20/09)

charlie you are one cool dude that knows how to enjoy life. hope to meet up with ya one day and listen to your stories. wishing you the very best! -- eric, norton, ohio (07/20/09)

i just read your article from dog fancy. i went on line to see charlie. thanks charlie for sharing! -- jade preston, palm beach gardens, florida (07/20/09)

hi, charlie! found out about you through dog fancy magazine, sorry your life started out so bad, but glad to hear it has definitely turned around. i have 2 dogs and several cats that were strays, too, and my border collie loves women, too, but he uses the shy approach to draw them in, seems like you 2 would make very good friends. good luck to you, buddy, hope you have many more years running up and down that beach. -- david mcrorie jr, monroe, nc (07/20/09)

just read your story in dog fancy, loved it. just letting you know that i (dixie) am also a basset and you are really cute, please tell your human that my humans are happy that you are happy and safe bye for now -- henry, cyndi & dixie (basset), ponchatoula, louisiana (07/21/09)

deer charlie, i is uh basset hound too. i thought i had it made til i heard about yu. i haf to admit dat i am just a tiny bit jellus of yu and yur lifestile. do you need help? i am cute and adorable too. let me kno if yu need a assistent. yur pal, hbeaudreux. ps: pleese dont let my fambly see dis note, they ar gud peeple but they mite not unnerstand. -- herman beaudreux marcel lafitte, newton, nc (07/21/09)

signing guestbook -- roseanne, omaha, nebraska (07/21/09)

hey charlie, i'm a bassett hound, too. we could really do some wandering together. i saw you in dog fancy magazine and i think you are c-o-o-l!! -- angus, newton, north carolina (07/21/09)

hi charlie, we had a mix basset named rodney and he loved to travel and visit too. he wasn't so much into chicks as he was into treats: ) i wish we had thought of the guest book thing. i had a vague idea of his travel route , but i would loved to have seen what people would've written. rodney went to doggie heaven a couple of years back and seeing you brought back all those great memories. live long and happy charlie. you make us smile. -- marianne, maine (07/21/09)

i have a bassett hound. i love them you are the star of yalapa. -- patrick, schenctady, new york (07/22/09)

just read about you in dog fancy - hope to visit someday and meet you! -- kelly, greeley, colorado (07/22/09)

i read the short story of you charlie, in dog fancy magazine: you rekindled some very precious memories of our dearly departed bassett named clarence: we too live in a seaport town and everyone loved clarence; he loved the harbor but not the water: i believe what he loved most was all the people offering him food! i feel in love again charlie with you!!your eyes are truly expressive; i wish you a long happy well fed life! -- gerry, port jefferson, new york (07/23/09)

hello charlie, i read about you in dog fancy. i grew up with a basset hound named clarence who my family and i truly adored! your story touched my soul and if you ever come to new york kindly stop over for a visit. i will do the same if i am in your area as well. sleep well charlie! a true basset hound lover, -- mary elizabeth copertino, northport, new york (long island) (07/23/09)

i found this on google! charlie really is famous! -- sam (07/23/09)

hi charlie, i read about you in the august issue of dog fancy magazine! you're one lucky dog!! our dogs, daisy and percy, say ola! -- jennifer, calgary, alberta, canada (07/23/09)

i saw charlie's article in dogfancy and was amazed! if i ever meet charlie, i'd ask for his pawtograph! (lol) ttyl! -- samantha, east greenwich, rhode island (07/23/09)

loved the article on "island dog"! we can't wait to visit yelapa and sign charlie's guest book. we hope to send charlie a package soon and we know he will share. we are enclosing some photos of rudy, our baby. he was named after the famous football player from notre dame. rudy is 8 years old and thinks he is a person. he has his own mailbox by his doghouse but has to have air conditioning and sleeps on a feather bed with pillows. he's got it soft! he is such a personality. we will keep in touch with charlie! we loved all the pictures. love, -- buffy and ducky baker, middletown, ohio (07/24/09)

imagine my surprise when i read dog fancy and saw you live in yelapa, my cousin les snyder lives their too, and i've been to the disco and ate the wonderful pies, hope to meet charlie on my next visit to see les -- elaine marcus, coronado, ca, usa (07/26/09)

hi from our arizona home! love the sight, very cute!!!! -- payson & cami vargas, arizona (07/28/09)

hi from arizona!! we were both adopted from arizona basset hound rescue (AZBHR). love your sight!!!! -- dawn, tito & our 2 human siblings adison & devin, arizona (07/28/09)

charlie, you are awesome, and one lucky dog! i am so happy that you found allan and have a wonderful life and home now. wish i could meet you in person some day and lounge around the beach with you....there is no other place in the world as lovely or as relaxing as the beach. keep soaking up that sun and enjoying life... -- sheri may, elmira, ny, usa (07/28/09)

i am sunning myself today at silverstrand beach, reading my dog fancy magazine and on the very last page i see a basset hound and a familar background, i knew it was charlie on yelapa! last november (08) the first week, my husband and daughter came to yelapa for the day, i was blown away to see a purebred dog in mexico! i love his story! can't wait to come back again this november. we were walking by the biog stream watching some horses cross the water and charlie came and greeted us. we watched him go to a man who was holding a glider! -- brenda, oxnard, california (07/28/09)

we live in oklahoma city....but we hope to visit sometime! charlie you are SO SO CUTE! -- haley dies, oklahoma city (07/28/09)

you go charlie, we're big fans, bassets rule! -- p purcell & bonnie & burt basset, chester springs, pa (07/30/09)

charlie your such a handsome boy. i hope everyone gives you lots of food and water and loves and kisses. xxx -- trish short, california (07/30/09)

you sound like such a cool dog. if we ever make it to yelapa, we will look you up. we would love to bring our jack russell terrier, max, to visit. he loves the sand and water also. have a great summer! woof! -- scott, jamie & max hanson, batavia, il (07/30/09)

love this dog! how cool! thank you for sharing his life with all of us :) -- cyndi pachas, saratosa, florida (07/31/09)

we are thinking of you charlie! just looked at your photos! we miss you and can't wait to see you this winter! -- chris & allison, ashland, oregon (08/04/09)

i was just in yelapa and fell in love with charlie. i was completely surprised that he has a website. this little guy is not taken care of at all. he had fleas all over, flies swarmed him and more ticks than i can count. my boyfriend and i gave him a bath and tried to take of as many ticks as possible but we stopped at about 12. if you don't want to take care of him, i will be more than happy to come back to yelapa and take him home. it looks like he was loved once so i am not sure what has gone wrong. -- jessica philips, scottsdale, arizona (08/10/09)

our response:

we appreciate your concern very much, but it's important to understand the particular conditions prevailing in yelapa: dogs here will get flea and tick infested in a matter of hours, especially during the wet summer months, and frontline (or similar products) are not very effective because the dogs are constantly getting wet.

in charlie's case this gets even worse, as he takes off roaming quite often and we might not see him for days -- particularly when tourists take him "home" to their hotel or rental house, and thus it's not possible for us to locate him easily. (this is why we've posted a map of charlie's home, for people to drop him off.) and yes, he often comes back infested or looking malnourished, but rest assured that as soon as he gets home he gets a royal cleaning and feeding treatment!

thank you for taking care of him while he was with you, and warm regards -- allan (08/11/09)

i just want to let you know i read your story. i love it. i had seven basset hound. so keep up the good work charlie, love you. -- june, rapid city, sd (08/13/09)

thank you for your return email. we were just concerned and i just fell in love with charlie. what a personality. would love to send you some photos we took. we hope to make it back in march and i would love to see him again. hugs charlie. you are loved! -- jessica philips, scottsdale, arizona (08/13/09)

i love that you rescued charlie from a life of loneliness. he is great. i volunteer for rescues and have rescued many dogs and my reward is the love that they return and knowing that they will enjoy life with loving people that came to the shelters and hand picked them knowing that they would give them the best life possible. hope charlie lives to be 100. thanks so much for the wonderful story in this months dog fancy. -- susie hall, elmwood, illinois (08/21/09)

saw an article and photo of you in dog fancy magazine and instantly fell in love (shh don't tell my husband)... anyway hope to meet you someday...keep on dancing! -- cathy, north babylon, new york (08/24/09)

hi charlie! we think your handsome! can we send you a picture of us? -- miss lilly & naughty nadine bassets, sparks, nevada (09/03/09)

this is one of the most delightful sites i have come across in quite a while. thank you for sharing. please give charlie a hug from nj -- pat, audubon, new jersey (09/04/09)

i saw your dog in dog fancy magazine. he is so cute and friendly. tell him i said hi. -- robert, broomfield, colorado (09/11/09)

hello charlie! it appears all is well with you, that's great. hope that earthquake last night didn't throw you off the dance floor. probably catch you in february. line up a couple bikini's for me, k bud? hang loose. later -- gerry coleman, spring lake, alberta, canada (09/11/09)

hey charlie, i am a basset hound like you. it was my adorable looks and loving ways that got my owner sarah to keep me. maybe one day i will make it south and we can run the beaches and pick up the senoritas together! -- todd, dayton, oh, usa (10/14/09)

hi charlie, my basset hound jake would love to meet ya. wish we could also be there on the beach with ya. -- beverly west, columbus, oh, usa (10/17/09)

thank you! you often write very interesting articles. you improved my mood. -- ventego, chile (10/17/09)

charlie! so nice to meet you while i was taking visiting yelapa. yelapa is so lucky to have such a nice ambassador! hope our paths cross again. keep cool dude! -- janet, sacramento, ca (11/19/09)

charlie and i hung out at his varied yelapa haunts. he's quite the dog about town and is a great pal and yelapa ambassador. que viva charlie/carlos el perro numero uno! -- miguel trujillo, santa fe, nm (11/25/09)

hola charlie, my sweet. it's been a week since you saw us off at the pier and life hasn't been the same since. we miss you and yelapa too! -- mary beth, santa fe, nm (11/25/09)