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Home / Lifestyle

Owners make amazing bucket list for beloved terminally ill dog

By Diane Apen-Sadler
Daily Mail·
4 Nov, 2018 12:37 AM7 mins to read

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Cynthia and Robert Peterson, from Burlington, Vermont, are fundraising for Finn. Photo / Instagram, FinnandYogi
Cynthia and Robert Peterson, from Burlington, Vermont, are fundraising for Finn. Photo / Instagram, FinnandYogi

Cynthia and Robert Peterson, from Burlington, Vermont, are fundraising for Finn. Photo / Instagram, FinnandYogi

The owners of a terminally ill dog are fundraising to create a book commemorating their beloved pet's final days.

Cynthia and Robert Peterson, from Burlington, Vermont, discovered Finn the golden retriever had terminal cancer last May and decided to create a bucket list for him, reports The Daily Mail.

The children's book is the final goal on Finn's list, and his owners are hoping his story can help other families dealing with the loss of a pet.

They've already ticked off plenty of items, including getting a Superman costume to wear to chemotherapy, and riding in a hot air balloon.

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Earlier this month six-year-old Finn got a tour around the local fire station (number 29), and last month he went apple picking (number 49).

Other adventures Finn has experienced include meeting a celebrity (number 39) and going on TV (number 24) - which were both completed in one day when a local news crew came to film Finn meeting Waffle Nugget from The Dogist.

The pooch also got to have a beer with his owners (number 47).

Writing on their GoFundMe page, Finn's owners said: 'The goal of this book is to tell Finn's story of courage and adventure to a younger audience with this children's book.

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"Finn's family wants to commemorate Finn with this children's book to raise awareness for pet cancer and create it as a resource for children and families confronting pet loss or pet cancer in their lives.

"With your support for this book project, Finn's bucket list adventures can live on for generations to come and can continue to inspire families everywhere."

The fundraiser currently has a goal of $15,000 to create and publish the children's book.

Any money leftover from the fundraiser will be distributed between the National Canine Cancer Foundation, the Live Like Roo Foundation, and the Emma's Foundation for Canine Cancer.

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Speaking about the decision to create the bucket list last month, Cynthia told the BBC: 'We know he's dying, but we are trying to make him happy.

'We will look back on this and think we made his final days the best we could. We're making the most of what we've got.'

Cynthia adopted Finn in 2012 when he was six weeks old, and since then the precious pooch has supported her through the toughest of times.

She added: 'He helped me through the grief when my dad died and now he's dying of cancer, too.

"It's a hard blow but really powerful to look back at how he got me through those times and now I'm going to help him."

You can donate to Finn's GoFundMe here.

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Finn's full bucket list

1. Have a party

2. Eat cake, and not because it's my birthday

3. Ride in a hot air balloon

4. Have a photo shoot

5. Swim in the ocean

6. Eat lobster in Maine

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7. Eat ice cream

8. Go camping

9. Go on a sunrise hike

10. Go on a sunset hike

11. Make a new friend

12. Teach a new friend my ways

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13. Roast marshmallows

14. Go on a shopping spree for his favourite things

15. Learn a new trick

16. Go on a boat ride

17. Go on one more sunrise hike

18. Go on a hike with Seymour and Yogi

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19. Ride in a police car

20. Have a steak dinner

21. Eat a cheeseburger

22. Have a picnic

23. Volunteer to be an unofficial therapy dog

24. Be on TV or in a movie

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25. Run a 5K

26. Go mountain biking with Cynthia and run alongside

27. Get a Superman costume to wear to chemotherapy

28. Wear the Superman costume for Halloween

29. Visit the fire station

30. Be a dog model

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31. Have another photoshoot with Seymour while wearing matching bowties

32. Make a donation to the humane society or local dog rescue

33. Get a massage at a doggie spa

34. Plant blueberry bushes (Finn's favourite fruit)

35. Get a song written about Finn

36. Get a portrait painted or drawn

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37. Play fetch one hot day with the sprinkler

38. Go to Lake Seymour

39. Meet a celebrity

40. FaceTime Cynthia on her birthday

41. Become a celebrity

42. Help another dog with cancer

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43. Help a child or adult with cancer

44. Get showered with all his favourite toys

45. Make homemade dog treats

46. Get a Live Like Roo care package

47. Have a beer

48. Send the vet's office a present

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49. Go apple picking

50. Write a children's book

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