Shropshire owner writes bucket list . . . for her dog
A Shropshire animal lover has put together a bucket list for her favourite dog.
Caroline Murphy took on Callie - one of five French bulldogs she owns - last year, after she adopted her and her sister Lilly.
She helped the 10-year-old to recover from a skin condition but Callie has failed to make a full recovery.
Miss Murphy, from Highley, said despite her best efforts various health problems had returned and were likely to cause Callie's death in the near future.
In the meantime she has created a bucket list of activities to complete to ensure they enjoy their last days together.
Miss Murphy, 25, who is disabled herself, said: "Callie suffered with demodectic mange which was untreated for nine years, and was suspected to be part of a puppy farm.
"I rescued her and her blind and deaf sister, Lilly, last year, because they were threatened with being placed in a pound where they could have been put to sleep.
"I battled for six months to clear her mange, which was only found after a biopsy, as it had burrowed so deep it didn't show on a skin scrape or hair sample.
"It was the worst my vet had ever seen.
"She also had a near fatal hernia from pushing puppies out and her uterus was like a ball of rope from multiple and harsh C-sections.
"I cured her mange and she has drastically improved in condition but now she has comedones all over her body and ulcers.
"She is also very sedate and I feel she is depressed because of all of this. She won't let go of me now and is very clingy."
Miss Murphy said her hopes that the allergies would go were dashed when the vet said they were likely to lead to Callie's death.
After dealing with the initial grief Miss Murphy decided there was only one thing to do.
"I made her and Lilly a bucket list because I love these little dogs to pieces," she said.
"We have been through so so much together and it is killing me to think she won't be here soon.
"She may live longer but I have to act as though she won't be."
The bucket list, which is also for Callie's sister Lilly, includes activities like entering a dog show, win a rosette, eat an ice-cream and go for a picnic.
"We have spent £700 on tests, which will take three weeks to come back, she's also uninsurable now because all of her problems," added Miss Murphy.
"So in these weeks and beyond we will tackle the bucket list.
"I am disabled myself and I specifically take on disabled dogs because I want to give them the best treatment and care I possibly can.
"I am with them all day and night because I cannot work due to my disabilities.
"All I ever do is care for them and live, sleep and breathe my animals.
"This bucket list is so important to me and them because after a year of only going to the vets and feeling ill, and neglect before then, she needs to know that life is about so much more than that."
Callie and Lillys action-packed TO-DO list:
Enter a dog show
Win a rosette
Eat a whole Mr Whippy ice-cream
Go for as walk with French bulldogs
Go for a picnic
Have my own Happy Meal
Sit on a horse
Be on TV
Have a massage session
Meet a celebrity and get a delfie (dog selfie)
Give someone my pawtograph
Go to a grooming salon for a pamper
Have a hydrotherapy session
Visit London and get a photo with Big Ben, a Trafalgar lion and Buckingham Palace
Go on the London underground and stay overnight in a hotel
Take part in a professional photo shoot
Go to a dog-friendly restaurant
Raise £500 for French Bulldog Welfare
