CREDIT: COURTESY ASHLEY MCELFRESH
Friend-making is never too old.
Buckeye the golden retriever is 15, and Harley Bruiser is 10. Both dogs were given bad diagnoses and a 4-6 month life expectancy. Buckeye has Cholangiocellular Carcinoma and Harley has Lymphosarcoma. Shortly after hearing the sad news, the two puppies met and formed an instant bond.
The next few months are a nonstop party for both of them, as they cross off unforgettable activities from their bucket lists.
Harley and Buckeye are ready for more fun after spending a day of shopping, treats, and snuggles.
Owner and veterinarian Grace Kemp told WTOV9: “I think it’s really important to try to give your pet the best quality of life till the end.”
Kemp and her family adopted Buckeye as a puppy from a shelter and raised him as part of the family.
The golden retriever visits his mother every day at Goodworks Veterinary Hospital in Ohio to show how good it is for pets to be taken care of as they get old.
Harley, on the other hand, didn’t waste time in his final months. After years of caring for his family, the bulldog is being spoiled more than usual.
As his owner, Ashley McElfresh, told WTOV9, “He’s got to ride in the back of our vehicles with us into town, skateboard down the road, I mean, anything a dog could ever want to do.”
McElfresh keeps track of Harley’s wonderful bucket list events via the Facebook page “Bucket List Adventures of Harley Bruiser.” Just a few of his recent experiences include a sunset drive, art creation, and riding a real Harley Davidson motorcycle.
Buckeye routinely appears on his best friend’s Facebook page as they prepare to leave their family and cross the rainbow bridge.
