14 DAY TRIAL // Dog owner Riina Cooke did an amazing and touching thing for her dying pet when vets diagnosed him with inoperable bone cancer – she wrote a “bucket list” for the dog and then helped him complete it.
Although she was devastated when she found out that her 9-year-old boxer Romeo had to be put to sleep, Riina decided to make sure that her best friend lived out his last days in style, so she created a bucket list full of adventures for him.
On the other hand, the 32-year-old woman from British Columbia also wanted to enjoy unforgettable moments with her pet pooch before he was gone.
“He’s been my best friend. I couldn’t ask for a better dog,” Riina said, according to a report by Life with Dogs. “He’s my first dog, so it’s just been really tough watching him go like this,” she added.
Miss Cooke took Romeo to the vet because he had been favoring his back left leg, and discovered that he had a tumor growing in his femur. She said she was very sad for the first few days after learning that her pet was terminally ill, and decided to do something to turn her pet’s last days into a fun and positive experience. She thought a bucket list would be the perfect solution for that.
“I think a bucket list is great for anyone who loves their dog like I love Romeo, and it gives you a lot of hope and happiness watching them go in a positive, happy way and have some adventures and create new memories,” Riina explained.
Since receiving the terrible cancer diagnosis in November last year, Romeo managed to tick off all 22 entries included in the bucket list compiled by his loving owner.
Among the adventures that Romeo experienced before he died, Daily Mail mentions riding along in a fire truck and a police car, having a professional massage, going on a blind date and eating sushi. He also had a steak cake, a beer in a pub and a spa day with a paw-dicure for his ninth birthday. Moreover, he even managed to visit the U.S. before his demise.
Four months after being diagnosed, Romeo’s condition deteriorated so much that vets had to put him to sleep on March 16. Riina says she will never forget Romeo, who was like her first child, but after losing him, she decided to get a new dog, Elvis, to keep her company.