One man and his pup are making the most of the dog days of summer.
Last May, veterinarians told Robert Kugler that his dog, Bella, had bone cancer that had spread to her lungs. Because of her condition, they had to amputate her leg and gave her three to six months to live, Kugler told The Huffington Post.
Devastated by the news, Kugler, a Nebraska native and Marine veteran, decided to take Bella on a cross-country adventure of a lifetime.
Now, 14 months later, the pair is still going strong.
The adventure began in November, after Kugler brought Bella with him on a quick road trip to Chicago for a Marine Corps ball, according to CNN. But instead of heading home after the event was over, Kugler kept driving all the way to Michigan with Bella in tow.
“[Bella has] always been adventurous and she’s so excited to go everywhere, meet everyone and try to eat everything, of course,” Kugler told The Huffington Post.
Since they embarked on their impromptu journey, Kugler and Bella have seen the majesty of the Niagara Falls, the national monuments of Washington, D.C., the sunny shores of Florida ― and they’re not slowing down.
“I feel like right now this is my purpose,” Kugler told Nebraska news station WOWT. “It’s the chapter in my life right now...just exploring with my dog.”
While spontaneity is one of the best parts of the trips, finding a safe spot to stay for the night can be a challenge.
Fortunately, people have opened their doors to let Kugler and Bella stay for the night. And as word spread about Bella’s story, it inspired strangers to offer them a place to stay or donate money to fund their adventure.
Friend and fellow veteran Susan Knapik created a GoFundMe page for Kugler and Bella that raised $6,000 in less than two weeks.
“The pair have been through so much, both individually and together,” Knapik wrote on the website. “And though it started out as a personal journey, their mutual loyalty is nothing short of inspiring to all of us who’ve been following their story the past few months.”
Such inspiration has also helped Bella make new friends along the way, including people who relate to her story.
During a visit to the Clearwater Marine Aquarium in Florida, a young girl in a wheelchair was thrilled to find the three-legged dog near one of the exhibits.
“When Bella stood up, I caught that moment when [the girl] was like, ‘She’s like me!’,” Kugler told HuffPost.
Kugler said that while veterinarians call Bella a “miracle dog” and tell him to continue traveling with her, he knows that the pair’s adventure will eventually come to an end.
“We take these animals on knowing that we’re going to have to eventually usher them out of this world,” he told HuffPost. “Most of us hope that someone can be there for us like we are for our pets.”
And in many ways, Bella has been helping Kugler, too.
After losing his brother in Iraq in 2007 and his sister in a car accident, Kugler said this road trip has helped him move forward and develop a new perspective on life. The duo plans to head back home to Nebraska at the end of the month ― but their travels won’t stop there. Kugler is hoping to take Bella to some of the national parks out west. The Redwood Forest and Yosemite are at the top of his list.
“I’ve been through a lot of lows, but I’m not going to allow myself not to be happy and go out there to live,” Kugler said. “It’s time to write the new narrative, and this is it and it’s awesome.”
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.