Meet the Mayor Who Just Set Out To Take Terminally Ill Dog on Trip of a Lifetime
If you knew that your best friend had less than a year to live, how would you spend the days?
A mayor from Massachusetts knows that his beloved dog, Mura, is dying.
She has terminal cancer, and even with chemotherapy, isn’t expected to survive longer than six months, WJAR reported.
Mura has been more than just a pet to Attleboro Mayor Paul Heroux over the past decade. The Japanese wolf dog has been the mayor’s trusty city hall sidekick, gone with him on the campaign trail, and is a regular fixture around town.
Heroux is a fierce animal advocate, working alongside the police department to establish stiffer penalties for people who leave their pets inside a hot car.
Heroux is also Mura’s biggest advocate, and when he learned that his pup had approximately four months left to live, he put his mayoral duties on pause and pulled out all the stops for his girl.
8,000 MILES OF MEMORIES: A Massachusetts mayor is on a cross-country road trip with his dog, who has terminal cancer. Watch my story – and see the power of unconditional love – tonight at 11 on @NBC10. pic.twitter.com/7ytwtl8j7Z
— Ashley Cullinane (@NBC10_Ashley) November 9, 2018
In late October, Mura and Heroux loaded up the car and hit the road for the cross-country adventure of a lifetime.
Their trip included visits to 24 U.S. states, including a stop in Canada, Mura’s birthplace.
Heroux has been sure to document their adventure, posting photos of the beautiful and bittersweet moments he and Mura have shared along the way.
“Filling up my gas tank: $40. Staying in a sketchy hotel: $60,” he wrote on Facebook. “The look on Mura’s face after she just ate a nasty freeway gas station hot dog: Priceless.”
As Mura began rising to internet fame, Heroux capitalized on the chance to encourage his followers to carefully consider a wide range of factors before adopting a dog of their own.
While a Japanese wolf dog looks adorable, he wrote on Facebook, the breed requires an intense time commitment, and is not right for everyone.
After walking in Hollywood, standing by the Golden Gate Bridge, and soaking in the views at Yellowstone National Park, it was time for man and dog to return home.
Upon returning home from their trip, Heroux reflected on the deep bond the two of them have shared over the years.
Mura’s story really should be a children’s book, he thought — so he plans to write one soon.
For as many days as she has left, Heroux plans to do whatever he can to keep her tail wagging and spirits high.
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