Central Coast family crossing off bucket list items for dying dog

Wishes for a dying dog.

One Central Coast family has begun journey, though they already know the way it ends.

When faced with their puppy’s death, a Felton family began an emotional journey to make his last days really count.

Just looking at Earl, he appears to be a happy, loving puppy.

“He chews on things, he is not housebroken but he’s just a love bucket,” says Crystal Cook.

But there’s a lot more to his story.

At 4-weeks-old Earl was surrendered to a San Jose shelter, when the Cleft Pup Brigade stepped in thinking his issue was a cleft palate.

But the truth was much worse. Earl had been a victim of animal abuse.

His foster mom says he may have been dropped or kicked. The abuse broke his jaw, and left him with a collapsed trachea and a hole on the roof of his mouth.

“He can’t eat hard kibble or wet food because he could aspirate it into his lungs while he’s eating, so we have to set down his food.”

Earl’s airway is now only 25 percent of what it should be, and with his other health issues, vets say earl won’t live long.

“You know, we’re still holding on to a miracle, but fully prepared you know, we’ve been told that he’s not going to make it.”

But that didn’t stop Crystal Cook. She decided to foster Earl to give him the best life, no matter how short.

She also knew she would have to explain Earl’s condition to her son Max, who had four years ago experienced a very personal loss first-hand.

“I’ve gone through this already because my dad died and we talk about that everyday,” says Max.

“We know how important it was to bring in this pup and be able to give him love and I think the exact words of my son were we need to show him that he’s loved before he goes to doggy heaven,” says Crystal.

And now, the Cooks are doing just that…taking Earl on the adventures of a doggie lifetime, creating a bucket list of items to check off one at a time.

Everything from getting samples at Costco, to hitting the boardwalk. And one of the most memorable…being a CHP office for a day.

Early has even experienced his first dance.

“I had no idea honestly that there was a pupaccino at Starbucks but it was kind of fun to think of things that he would want to do.”

Crystal hopes this experience will also show people how important it is to foster and rescue animals. The family has fostered non-stop the past few years, something Max says his Dad would be proud of.

“We got to foster them and then he’s fostering them up there too, so he really knows how fun it is.”

It’s clear. Though this dog’s days are limited, the love for him is not.

And whenever little Earl crosses over, he’ll do so with a full tummy and an even fuller heart.

Many people have asked what will happen to the person or persons who are responsible for Earl’s injuries. Unfortunately with him being anonymously surrendered, there is no way to track them down.

You can help by donating to the Cleft Pup Brigade.

Cook also wants to thank the community for stepping in to help with things like food, toys, baths and The Absolute Photography for documenting Earl’s life.

You can follow Earl on Instagram @Earls_bucket_list