This man took his four-legged best friend on one last adventure after finding out that he didn’t have long left to live.
In the Brecon Beacons aboard a wheelbarrow, Carlos Fresco, 57, pushed his Labradoodle Monty up the Pen y Fan, his favorite mountain.
The duo has visited the place many times over the years. But after Monty’s 18-month-long battle with leukemia, Carlos knew that it won’t be long before the 10-year-old dog crosses the rainbow bridge.
He decided to return to the area with Monty so they could share one last journey together.
Going on adventures is nothing new for the pair. Carlos had owned Monty since he was a puppy, and they have explored hills and gone on walks all over the UK. They have also summited three peaks.
But after being diagnosed with cancer 18 months ago and responding well to chemotherapy, Monty’s leukemia returned eight weeks ago, and his condition began to quickly deteriorate.
“I knew Monty was dying as his cancer had returned. He was diagnosed 18 months ago and responded very well to chemotherapy,” Carlos, a hotelier from London, said. “But unfortunately, his leukemia returned eight weeks ago, and he declined very rapidly.”
Monty has always loved hill walks, but he’s not as strong as before. So, Carlos had to come up with a way to get him to the top easily. He ended up using a friend’s rusty old wheelbarrow, which he dusted off and oiled up so it can be used again.
The next day, he loaded up the barrow with blankets and put Monty on top of them to start their journey to the top of Pen y Fan.
The dog not only enjoyed a smooth ride; he also relished the attention he received from the strangers they encountered on the trip. Many people took turns in pushing him, and Monty really enjoyed all of it because he’s always loved mingling with people.
“People on the hills were so kind and equally so sad at his deteriorating condition,” he said. “In fact total strangers asked if they could share in pushing Monty on his last journey – many total strangers shed a tear as we all love dearly our little four-legged friends.”
Carlos wanted to thank them all for the support and encouragement they showed Monty during their adventure. He said that the dog has “touched so many lives” and has made everyone he met smile.
“Our little companions are never judgmental, are always there waiting for you and offer comfort when things haven’t gone well,” he said.
Sadly, Monty had passed away at the foot of his bed on the morning of Father’s Day.
“I peered over the mattress and he’d gone,” Carlos recalled. “He looked so peaceful though and I’m glad we got to go on one last adventure together.”
Another adventure-loving dog is this 16-year-old Chesapeake Bay Retriever named Cocoa. His owners, Tom Antonino and his wife, Lauren Slepin, often go on walks with her at Virginia Beach. It was the trio’s favorite place to go, and they’ve shared lots of beautiful memories there.
Sadly, Cocoa started to struggle with walking when she turned 16. That’s when Tom and Lauren realized that her age is catching up to her.
They didn’t want Cocoa to miss out on their walks, so they built her a mobile bed so they can all still go to the dog park and watch the sunset by the ocean.
But just a few months after she got her mobile bed, Cocoa died. Her family is saddened by her passing, but knowing that they’ve given her much love and made her twilight years as comfortable as possible brought them comfort.
For all the unconditional love and endless joy they give, our companions truly deserve to live their best lives while they’re still here with us.
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