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Terminally Ill Virginia Dog With Bucket List Now Has a Home

A few items have been knocked off Smoke's bucket list: He rode in a firetruck, ate a cheeseburger and visited Nationals Park

A terminally ill dog now has a family to help him make the most of his final days.

Smoke, a 10-year-old hound mix with cancer, was adopted Thursday. Adding to the good news, the Animal Welfare League of Arlington said volunteers helped check two items off his extensive bucket list: he visited Nationals Park and rode in a police car.

"We're so happy Smoke found his forever home. He was adopted by a loving family that has experience with senior rescue animals," shelter president Sam Wolbert said in a statement.

Photos show the happy pooch trotting around Nats Park and happily riding in an Arlington police car. 

Last week, the shelter announced Smoke's cancer diagnosis on its Facebook page and said the "ridiculously handsome hound" still needed a home. 

"We don’t know how long Smoke has left with us - it could be six months, or it could be just a few weeks," reads the post. "What we do know is that Smoke deserves to live the rest of the time he has left in a home, with a family that loves him. We are hoping that someone will come and adopt this big, goofy boy and give him as much love as they can during his last weeks and months."

But Smoke isn't going to just sit around waiting for a home; he's going to be busy living the good life while he can. 

Here was his full bucket list: 

  • Find a forever family
  • Go on a hike
  • Eat ice cream
  • Go to the beach
  • Have a birthday party
  • Ride in a fire truck
  • Eat a cheeseburger
  • Have breakfast in bed
  • Meet a celebrity
  • Ride in a police car and bay with the sirens
  • Get a full-body doggie massage
  • Go camping
  • Meet Santa
  • Be on TV
  • Jump in a big pile of leaves
  • Get a professional photoshoot
  • Go on a road trip
  • Get his own Instagram account
  • Ride in a convertible
  • Get a huge box of toys to play with and share with his shelter friends!

On August 18, NBC and Telemundo stations around the country will team up with hundreds of shelters for the Clear the Shelters animal adoption drive. Shelters will waive or discount fees as part of the one-day event. Go here for more information.

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