Man given six months to live has ‘dying wish’: To find a loving home for his dog
There are very few things in life stronger than the bond between a human and their beloved pet. This is especially true for one man in Massachusetts who discovered he has only a short time to live and whose “dying wish” is to find a loving new family for his furry soulmate.
David Fine, a 63-year-old retired carpenter in Plainville, adopted Babs, a Shar-Pei/boxer mix when she was just a puppy almost a decade ago, and they have been with each other through thick and thin, WJAR reported.
“I had told myself I was never going to get another pet because it breaks my heart to lose them. Unfortunately, she’s going to outlive me this time,” Fine told the outlet.
Fine traveled with Babs after he retired in 2020, and when they were traveling through Wyoming, he begin to feel ill. He had already been diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia years before, but in August, the doctors discovered he had Stage 4 lung cancer, WJAR reported.
He was given six months to live and has one more remaining after choosing not to go through with treatment. That means he has one month left to find a home for Babs.
Fine enlisted the help of Jennie Mann, a woman who helps rescue animals, according to her Facebook page.
“He needs someone local. He really doesn’t want to waste time if she won’t be a fit,” Mann said in a May 9 Facebook post about Fine and Babs.
“His dog is his life. He said he can’t be laid to rest, until he knows his baby will be taken care of, when he is gone. She HAS to be an only pet. She doesn’t play well with other dogs and is a hunter at heart for small animals.
“She loves ALL people, loves meeting new people, and loves traveling. She loves belly rubs and loves to give hugs. She is an angel in the house. She has no behavior issues. She is completely potty trained as well. He couldn’t tell me enough about how wonderful, perfect, and loving she is.”
Fine wants someone local so Babs can begin the process of getting to know a new family before he goes into hospiceand she won’t be going to a stranger.
“Take her on visits to your home. Take her for a sleep over so she can get used to you. He wishes that whomever takes her will bring her to visit him when he has to go into hospice,” Mann said.
But the most heart-shattering of all is Fine’s final request: that Babs be with him during his final moments.
“He is hoping that she could possibly be there when he passes. He wants her to understand he did not abandon her, and that he has passed,” the post said.
According to Mann, Fine’s phone has been ringing off the hook from all over, but he’s set on potential new owners being local and for them to reach out to Mann via Facebook.
Plainville is about a 40-mile drive southwest from Boston.
This story was originally published May 17, 2024 at 2:44 PM with the headline "Man given six months to live has ‘dying wish’: To find a loving home for his dog."