This guy and his dying dog are doing an amazing “farewell holiday” together

Bella is a three-legged lab with terminal cancer.

Declan Cashin

This guy and his dying dog are doing an amazing “farewell holiday” together

Getting the news that a pet hasn’t long left to live is devastating for the owners.

All you can do is make the animal as comfortable as possible and spend as much time together as you can.

When Robert Kugler, from Nebraska, in the US, got the news last year that his nine-year-old dog Bella was dying of cancer, he decided to do something really special for her final days.

“I just didn’t want her to be gone one day when I came home,” Robert told CNN.

It’s nice to have someone else take a few pics once in a while, so we can just be our goofy selves. We’re about to have a WRASTLIN MATCH. -Photo by Steve McCulloch #gobellago

A photo posted by Robert Kugler (@robkugler) on Jul 19, 2016 at 9:55pm PDT

Bella – a nine-year-old chocolate lab – had been diagnosed with bone cancer, and had a leg amputated. Then Robert got the news that the disease had spread to her lungs, and was terminal.

Robert says he was told by vets: “If you don’t want to take the leg, you should put her down today, because she’s in so much pain. However, it won’t save her, because the cancer is in her lungs, and you’re looking at 3-6 months.”

It was then that Robert decided to hit the road with Bella for one last holiday together.

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Last November, the pals set off to Chicago for an army event – Robert is former US Marine – and they have been more or less travelling since, documenting their journey on social media.
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The pair did one tour along the US east coast – what Robert called “the farewell tour”, as Bella hadn’t been given long to live. But she pulled through, and 16 months later is still fighting on.

So Robert and Bella decided to head back on the road, this time hitting up the American south, sleeping in his SUV and crashing with friends along the way.

Tell me….is there any better way to start the morning…than enjoying the birth of a new day with someone you love next to you? #sunrise #ocean #bella #journey #labrador #menanddogs #survivor #cancersucks #florida #naples #summer #love #connection #lovethisdog #pier #dock #mansbestfriend #canonrebel
A photo posted by Robert Kugler (@robkugler) on Jul 12, 2016 at 6:13am PDT

After a nice swim in the pool, Bella and our host, Stan, are on the lookout for some lizards!! #lizardisthenewsquirrel #floridalife #labrador #relaxing

A photo posted by Robert Kugler (@robkugler) on Jul 17, 2016 at 11:41am PDT

People be spending their most precious moment together as they join in holy matrimony…and Bella be rolling in the sand like AAHHH. #labrador #weddings #labrador #gobellago #lovethisdog #likewhat

A photo posted by Robert Kugler (@robkugler) on Jul 15, 2016 at 5:23pm PDT

Robert says he plans to keep on travelling with Bella, but is aware that plans could change any day.

“We’re trying to stay as fluid as possible, so not trying to set many plans in stone, but we are truly looking forward to continuing this amazing journey for as long as we can keep going,” he writes on his blog.

Because who doesn’t like a good face #massage ? #bella #labrador #lovethisdog #dogsmile #dogsofinstagram #tripawd #happy #love #animals #mansbestfriend

A photo posted by Robert Kugler (@robkugler) on Mar 13, 2016 at 8:40am PDT

It seems the pair are inspiring love and happiness everywhere they go; friends have set up a GoFund me page for the two of them, and so far it has raised almost $7,000.

“I want to inspire people to get outside and live,” Robert said in a recent interview. “Love each other for who we are and make friends.”

Best of luck you two.

That #fineline between #Love and #Cruelty. #lovethisdog #smooshface #facesmash #labrador #bella #tripod #tripawd #daddysgirl #dogs #dogsofinstagram

A photo posted by Robert Kugler (@robkugler) on Feb 22, 2016 at 12:57pm PST