Caring Volunteer Creates Bucket List Of Dreams For Dying Dog

NORTH FORK, NY — A woman with a heart of gold has created a bucket list of dreams for a dying dog who's left an indelible impression on her life.

Sasha, a sweet-natured homeless dog who has won hearts, but never been blessed with a forever home, is now facing her final battle.

Sasha, 10, is a senior black pit mix who, all too often, has been passed over by potential adopters looking to take home a four-legged friend, got the worst possible news this week.

According to Gabrielle Stroup of the North Fork Animal Welfare League in Peconic, urgent hospice foster care is needed for Sasha, who was just diagnosed with lymphoma.

She is taking prednisone to give her comfort.

"She is one of the most gentle, sweet dogs," Stroup said. "She loves all people. She is great on a leash and is completely house trained. She is a total couch potato."

Hearts were broken at the news; Sasha has endeared herself to shelter staff. "It's been sad to see her at the shelter as long as she has been. It would break all our hearts to have her live her last days in a kennel," Stroup said.

Sasha had a special few days last year when was singled out for some special attention and went on a sleepover at a hotel, where she was treated to some love and attention from Valerie Sanks, a volunteer who takes dogs from the Southold, Brookhaven and Riverhead shelters and transports them to hotels for a night of snuggling and fun.

When she learned of Sasha's plight, Sanks was devastated: "My sweet girlfriend, Miss Sasha," she said. Quoting lyrics, she said, "Sasha, in high tide tide, I'll be by your side, 'cause that's what friends are for."

And she has been staying true to her promise: Sanks took Sasha on an outing this week, on a drive to Orient Point, where Sasha was able to go for a walk on the beach, watch the ferries, and dip her paws in the water, she said.

"We sang songs in the truck and she played with a new toy in the back seat. We talked about what she would like in her bucket list," Sanks said, adding that next up, she's planning to take Sasha on the ferry for a nice beach picnic lunch.

On Sasha's bucket list, Sanks says, are a number of doggy dreams, including car and ferry rides, "one last birthday party," her favorite Thanksgiving stuffing, having someone read her a bedtime story, a cheeseburger and a vanilla milkshake, a tea party with a little girl, lunch with the Southold Town Police Department, an ice cream party with her friends at the North Fork Animal Welfare League in Peconic, a sunset picnic on the beach, new squeaky toys, and, most important in her last days, "To love and be loved."

Sanks, who fundraises to afford the hotel rooms where the dogs are pampered, said if Sasha does not find a foster home, she will work tirelessly to raise the money to afford a hotel where she can bring Sasha for her final days. "Then we will make that room her home, filled with love," she said.

At her sleepover with Sanks, Sasha was able to get cozy in a real bed at the hotel and enjoy the warmth of a human companionship.

Sasha, Sanks said, is a "beautiful black dog, such a loving girl."

To help Sasha, or to volunteer to make one of her bucket list dreams come true, call 631-765-1811 Ext. 1 or email manager@nfawl.org.

Patch courtesy photo.