OMAHA, Neb. — A former U.S. Marine is currently on a cross country tour with his best friend – his Chocolate lab Bella. Unfortunately, the trip did not begin because of any normal circumstance, but because Rob Kugler wanted to have a life-changing farewell journey for his dog that had been diagnosed with cancer.
“I just didn’t want her to be gone one day when I came home,” Kugler told WOWT.
Kugler took Bella to the vet to examine what he thought was an injury to her leg. But when that injury turned out to be cancer, doctors amputated Bella’s leg and gave her only 6 months to live.
He decided to begin the cross-country trek after a trip to the Marine Ball and has not looked back since. The duo have traveled to Washington, D.C., Niagara Falls, and the beaches of Florida.
“I feel like right now this is my purpose. It’s the chapter in my life right now is just exploring with my dog,” he said.
Although veterinarians gave Bella only 6 months to live, she has survived 14 months since her diagnosis. Neither she, nor her marine counterpart, show any signs of slowing down soon.
You can follow their adventure on Kugler’s website here. Kugler also posts numerous photos to his Instagram account here.
(H/T WOWT)
July 13th, 2016