So sorry for your loss. I can really relate.
I had to have my best friend, protector and shadow put to sleep in Oct 2007. On Thursday Bandit was fine, his normal self. Friday he started acting a little odd, sleeping more, not following me everytime I got up...we just figured he had a tummy ache or something. By Saturday morning it seemed like he couldn't see. I would call his name and he would walk towards a wall or desk and just stand there staring at it. I hoped it was something temporary, but by Sunday he was running into everything whenever he got up. He couldn't find his food/water, the door to go out and he couldn't find me, which was the worst because his main 'job' seemed to be that he had to be by my side at all times.
On Monday I took him to the vet and found out he had gone totally blind and had glaucoma. There was no cure or hope for him. He could no longer live his life the way it made him happiest and I couldn't force him to live like that. I asked the vet to put him to sleep. I held Bandit and petted him as the drugs took effect. The meds to stop his heart took what seemed like forever to work...it was almost as if he was fighting to stay with me. I hadn't thought what would happen after I put him to sleep (I went hoping the vet could fix him), until the vet asked if I wanted them to cremate him or if I wanted to take him home. I chose to take him home and had to help the vet put him in a trash bag (by this time I was struggling hard not to go into hysterics). I got him into the back of my Durango and took him home, crying the whole way. I put him in my wagon, pulled him out back and at 8pm that night DH, our 3 kids and I dug Bandits grave in our backyard and buried our beloved friend.
We got Bandit in October 1997 at a local animal shelter, he was 5 months old. Oddly enough he died almost exactly 10 yrs later. Both times were right before Halloween. I keep his collar hanging on my rearview mirror in my Durango. I still call his name sometimes when I am trying to call my other dogs. 2 yrs later and talking about him still brings tears to my eyes. Sorry for rambling.
I am sure Charlie will always be with you in some way and you will never forget her.
ETA: Bandit also suffered from arthritis and it was getting harder for him to make it upstairs at bedtime. After long walks or hikes, he could barely walk. I didn't want anyone to think I was just unwilling to retrain a perfectly healthy blind dog.
