SUBSCRIBE VIA RSSI wanted to thank everyone for all of your incredible ideas for Dory’s Bucket List Adventure. Over the next several months I’ll be updating with photos, videos, and stories of our adventures as we work through the list.
Already, Dory has made incredible strides as a new member of the family and I’m happy to say that she’s fit right in. Jackson, our other dog, has a new playmate. And our cats, Larry and Karma, are as tolerant of the new arrival as one would expect cats to be. Of course, all the humans in the household have embraced her and I think this has done wonders for her energy reversal.
What follows is Dory’s Bucket List as created by YOU! Have other ideas for even more adventures? Simply comment below!
- Run in the stream flats at Taughannock Falls – DONE!
- Dog angels in the grass – DONE!
- Be tumor-free – DONE!
- Play catch with a ball – DONE! Although it was more like watching the ball roll.
- A dog race with Jackson – DONE! They both lost. Went it totally different directions.
- Play hide and seek with the kids – DONE! It sucked. Being blind, Dory can barely find herself.
- Enjoy a walk by Seneca Lake – DONE!
- Enjoy a walk by Cayuga Lake – DONE!
- Enjoy a walk by Skaneateles Lake
- See Niagara Falls
- Enjoy some doggie ice cream treats by the lake
- Boat ride
- Sock tug-of-war – DONE! She willingly gave up the sock though.
- Chewing up a huge marrow bone – DONE! Enjoyed the leftovers from our Christmas standing rib roast.
- A crazy romp in the snow with the kids – DONE!
- Running on the beach
- Being let off the leash in a wide open field of grass – DONE!
- Fed table scraps even though it’s a guilty pleasure – DONE! All too often thanks to generous kids.
- A trip to Petsmart for some new toys – DONE!
- A Kong filled with treats
- Trip to Central Park in NYC
- Sledding with the kids
- Be a guest at the elementary school
- Enjoy first family Christmas – DONE! She slept under the tree the entire time.
- March in a parade – DONE!
- Trick-or-treating with the family, in costume
- Photo with Santa
- Chasing kids around the yard – DONE! Kinda. She ran randomly.
- Retrieving frisbees in the back yard – DONE! Kinda. She never technically retrieved one.
- Sleeping on the humans’ beds – DONE! Also slept on our couch for good measure.
- Trip to the lake for swimming
- Scrambled eggs and bacon in the morning – DONE! Surprised the plate made it through that assault.
- Enjoy a rope bone soaked in chicken stock
- Trip to Montezuma Wildlife Preserve
- Big fat juicy steak – DONE!
- Home made doggy cookies and licking the bowl
- Be taken fishing on the shore
- Sit and enjoy a family bonfire with a doggy s’more – DONE!
- A nice ride in the car with head hanging out the window – DONE!
- Playtime with puppies
- Play in the lawn sprinkler
- Learn to sit on command – (We’re trying, she can barely hear commands)
- Learn to lay down on command – (She lays down so often we might change this to “stand” on command)
- Visit to the farm – DONE!
- Run with cattle – DONE!
- Rib bones from slow-BBQ’d ribs with the family
- Get own Christmas stocking – DONE! Loaded with dog treats and chew bones
- Do a lemonade stand with the kids and donate all proceeds to a rescue shelter in her name
- Visit a local nursing home that allows dogs to come and cheer up the shut in
- Play in a giant mud puddle – DONE!
- Enjoy a canoe ride and picnic
- Dock diving
- Snuggle on couch with family on movie night – DONE! Honestly, it looked like she was in heaven.
- Peanut Butter marathon
- ??????
Have another idea???
We’d love to add to the list if you think of something Dory might enjoy. Our goal is to get through this entire list, regardless of order, so that we help her make up for the 10 years lost as a neglected dog. Thank you all for your help and I’ll be sure to keep you posted with photos, video, and stories of our travels!
Of course, don’t let Dory be the only reason you visit. Come back each day to enjoy all the posts between Dory’s updates. I’ll be doing my best to at least put a smile on all your pretty faces.
{ 3 trackbacks }
{ 23 comments… read them below or add one }
Dory will have a wonderful life with you and your family! Even if she can’t say it – I know she already loves and appreciates all you’ve done for her even without a bucket list.
Hopefully her house breaking will go quickly – just remember that she lived on a 10′ chain for years, so she is very use to going where she “lives” even though that’s not a preferable situation for dogs (they don’t like going in their sleep/living space) – it may take a bit of time to break that, but I have no doubt you will accomplish it.
For additions to the bucket list…
Couch cuddle time is always a favorite treat for our fur kids!
As much fun as she is going to be having with everything else on the list, remember that she is a senior citizen and will need her rest too – her bones ache with arthritis from years of limited movement so be aware and realize she may not always feel up to running and jumping.
@Elaine – Excellent suggestion on the couch and perhaps we can make that happen with a blanket (added!)
As for her age, yes, we’re well aware that she isn’t a puppy or a young dog any more. That’s why we plan on taking our time with the list.
I’m not out to jam through this list in a month or two. This will be at least a year in the making and the point is to make all of these experiences gradual for her. Some of them, she just won’t be able to do, but we’ll certainly work to deliver as much play time and excitement as we can!
can’t wait to see her costume LOL
@Melinda – I can’t wait to make her look utterly ridiculous.
What a great list!! She’s a lucky dog!
what an absolutely fabulous list! Dory hit the jackpot – and she really is the luckiest girl in the world!
How about some pampering at a pooch spa?
@Katie – We thought about the spa idea but she’s already kinda been there.
We took her to a professional groomer the day we got her and she was pampered for over two hours. They do a really nice job there so we figure that’s just something she gets by default. 
I would LOVE to make treats for her! <3
@Lesley – Hook her up! If you make ‘em, I’d love to write about it. Include the recipe, of course. Oh, but if you give her food poisoning, I’ll have to add “Get Stomach Pumped” to her list.
I just want to say that your experiences with Dory have helped me appreciate my dog so much more. I rescued Ella from the pound six years ago. She and I have been through so much together and your stories reminded me of ways I can continue to make her life happy. Thank you.
P.S. Are you going to get rid of that tumor on Dory’s ear? It looks really painful, especially when it whacks her upside her head as she runs in the water. Don’t be too proud to beg…or put a donate button on your page.
@Lauren – Thank you for the comment, and I totally hear you on how it can help you appreciate your rescue even more. Hopefully LOTS of people can use this list…whether it be a rescue dog or a purebred.
We are indeed going to make her tumor-free. We have a vet appointment this week so that they can see what they can do on the estimate. We’re going to get two opinions. Thus far, we’re told around $600, but we’ll see.
What’s odd is that it doesn’t seem to bother her at all. She could care less when we touch it or pet her. Perhaps because it’s been there for so long.
We decided to give in and put up a donation button (working on that now) as so many people have offered. It wasn’t an expense we expected and after having just bought a house, Lord knows it’s tight around here!
Not seeing that trip to Texas lol
Regardless of whether or not this list gets completed, Dory is lucky to have found a family that cares enough to even create such a list. I have no doubt in my mind that she lays in her comfy spot every night and just smiles her little puppy dog smile at the thought of the love that surrounds her everday now.
Some things our Swissy recommends:
–Chew through a full-sized cow femur
–Awaken members of the family by licking parmesan cheese off their exposed body parts (she’ll need help with this)
–Rule the off-leash dog park; sniff at least 100 butts in a single outing
–Attempt to fit three tennis balls in mouth at the same time (probably give up at two)
–Meet a litter of puppies
–Help kids learn to read by being read to (it’s great for the kids, too)
–Visit a senior center
–Spend an hour getting a glob of peanut butter off the roof of her mouth; be videotaped during same, with captioned video of imaginary things Dory might say to be posted subsequently
–Get doggie massage
–Get doggie acupuncture
We have these little concrete stepping stones in our garden of our boys handprints. They just asked me the other day to do one for our rescue dog, Laney. I must admit, I was sort of all “I can’t believe I am about to push my dog’s paw in concrete, I am a crazy person,” but now that it’s finished, I couldn’t be happier. Pets are like children to a family…if I would do handprint kits for my kids, why not my dog? I’m already in love with it.
Ooo, I like these new ideas, too!
The Parmesan scenario just seems completely unpleasant, which makes it perfect to do to my wife some morning. We already have a few of the other ideas in queue but we’re definitely going to add Peanut Butter and the Stepping Stones. I like that a lot.
I don’t know if this technically counts because you already have “a crazy romp in the snow” on there…but my dog used to love to try and play catch with snowballs.
Also – drinking water straight from the hose.
Glad to see Dory is doing so well!
This is wonderful. I’m so glad I found your blog.
My rescue dog recommends the following:
- Doggy play dates. Find a friend Dory can play with. (It sounds like your other dog is wonderful but unable to romp.) While humans are terrific, there is nothing like friends of your own kind.
- Training! Teach Dory to do fun things. This can help her feel like she is working, which can be quite fulfilling for a doggy. You have “sit” and “lie down” on the list (“lay down” is not correct grammatically, ha ha), but why not add other things? My dog loves to play patty-cake with me, do various dance steps, roll over, play dead, and a bunch of other things. Treats and lots of positive reinforcement will make this a happy time for her and strengthen your bonds.
Teaching her how to find hidden things (puzzle balls, treats underneath a box, etc.) will help stimulate her brain and make up for all the deprivation she’s been through, so she will be happier.
I’m not sure if I’m more excited or confused that your dog has the same name as me…..
I must admit, I have placed many of her items on her bucket list to mine. Keep all of us informed of her wonderful life (thank to you five.
I see there hasn’t been an update in a very long time… did Dory die or something? A lot of this checklist remains unchecked, I thought you said time was short? An update of any sort would be appreciated. And if she is alive… to continue down your list… she is already pretty old
Yes, for sure, I need to update! She’s alive and well, as I’ve written about recently, and I do need to update the checklist as at least ten new items are now checked off. Winter will hurt that a little.
Please, please… give us some updates about Dory !
And pictures ! Hoping she have many more wonderful years to come.