Rocko made the first appearance of many at MCACC in October 2015. The Labrador mix was surrendered to our East Valley Animal Care Center in Mesa because his owner was moving and couldn’t take him along. Rocko was adopted six months later in March 2016 and returned to the shelter again in April. He was adopted in May and surrendered to the shelter once more in August because he was sick.
Shelter staff and volunteers thought Rocko had allergies, so we sent him to a foster home for treatment. When Rocko’s sores and red skin didn’t heal, further testing revealed he had lymphosarcoma – a disease for which there is no cure. Volunteers were undaunted and Creative Contributions (www.creativecontributions.org) provided funding to help provide care for Rocko via prednisone and chemotherapy drugs.
Unfortunately, the drugs have started to lose their effectiveness and it is only a matter of time before Rocko loses his fight. MCACC volunteers reached out to staff and we have begun creating a bucket list for Rocko in his final weeks. On Friday, January 13, Rocko checked off his first item – a ride on a Mesa Fire Department fire engine! http://www.12news.com/news/local/valley/a-sick-dog-s-bucket-list-/385969058
We have several other requests for Rocko and will let you know each time he is about to check another item off his bucket list.