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Blaze's bucket list: A tribute to a dying dog

Most dog owners will tell you their four-legged friends are one of the family.

So when Tracy Tunney found out her beloved Border Collie Blaze had Lingual cancer, she was determined to give her ‘furkid’ a proper farewell.


Blaze and sister Temperance met with Santa Clause over Christmas.
Blaze and sister Temperance met with Santa Clause over Christmas.
Blaze got all dressed up to go on a date with Border Collie Millie.
Blaze got all dressed up to go on a date with Border Collie Millie.

“No one ever wants to hear a loved one has cancer,” Ms Tunney told Yahoo7.

“Yes he may have four legs and fur but he is a family member.

“Blaze saw my husband and I become parents three times, he moved with us twice, he tolerated our foster journey, he was our furbaby, our second child."

Blaze helped the Tunney family foster 62 dogs after the 2011 floods. Ms Tunney said he was like a father figure to the smaller animals.
Blaze helped the Tunney family foster 62 dogs after the 2011 floods. Ms Tunney said he was like a father figure to the smaller animals.
Blaze was adopted into the Tunney family when he was just five weeks old.
Blaze was adopted into the Tunney family when he was just five weeks old.

The Brisbane mother decided to create a bucket list of adventures to make the most of the time Blaze had left.

“At first my husband thought I was a little nuts, but after we started he understood that it made or forced us to spend quality time with Blaze when his quantity of time was limited,” she said.

With the help of friends and family, Ms Tunney created a list of 20 items, most of which revolved around food or trips to the beach in keeping with Blaze’s favourite pastimes.

Together they drank puppichinos, road tripped across the country and slept under the stars.

Blaze's final visit to the beach with his family.
Blaze's final visit to the beach with his family.
Blaze enjoying some fresh air on a family outing.
Blaze enjoying some fresh air on a family outing.

Blaze’s bucket list soon gained a following on Facebook, where Ms Tunney posted regular updates on his condition and shared photos from their outings.

The family managed to tick off most of the items before Blaze passed away last Friday.

Ms Tunney says even though she is devastated Blaze is gone, she takes comfort in knowing his final months alive were so special.

Blaze and his sister sleeping out while on a 4WD adventure.
Blaze and his sister sleeping out while on a 4WD adventure.
Blaze enjoying a McDonalds burger, another item on the bucket list.
Blaze enjoying a McDonalds burger, another item on the bucket list.

“This bucket list has made the pain staking last few months more happy and bearable,’ she said.

“Instead of sitting around feeling so sad because of the situation he was in and watching him deteriorate in front of our eyes, we went out, we did things together.

“What better way to spend your last few months with a loved one than to create memories of a lifetime. He enjoyed life till the very last moment.”

Enjoying cake at his 12th birthday party.
Enjoying cake at his 12th birthday party.
Blaze celebrated his 12th birthday just days before he passed away.
Blaze celebrated his 12th birthday just days before he passed away.