Anderson family working to finish Artie’s bucket list journey

Artie, a three legged dog with terminal cancer is trying to fit 15 years’ worth of life into the span of one month and still has a number of items to tick off his bucket list.

Georgi Anderson and kids Charles, 11, and Arthur 8. with Artie; the family is helping the three-legged pointer tick items off his bucket list. Picture: Mark Wilson

Artie, a three legged dog with terminal cancer, is trying to fit 15 years’ worth of life into the span of one month and still has a number of items to tick off his bucket list.

Georgi Anderson, from St Leonards, works as a vet in Ocean Grove and also looks after animals who have been given a terminal diagnosis.

When a person decided to give up Artie in February this year because they were heading overseas, Ms Anderson said she wanted to adopt the dog as she could see he still had some life left in him.

Despite having his leg amputated and being given a life span of over just one month to live Artie has been enjoying his best life.

“He’s on borrowed time and so the kids and I thought we would start a bucket list for him,” Ms Anderson said.

Artie the 2 year old Whippet made news headlines in March after his family made a bucket list for him as he has a terminal illness. Pic shows owner Georgi Anderson and kids Charles, 11, and Arthur 8. with Artie Picture: Mark Wilson

“We are trying to fit 15 years of life into a couple months.”

The family took Artie on the ferry to Sorrento for the day and has been exploring new places with their beloved pooch.

“We have lots of beach things and have taken him on lots of adventures and there are still quite a few things that we are working through,” Ms Anderson said.

Artie has also tried new delicacies, like chicken nuggets, and enjoyed going on treasure hunts.

Ms Anderson said ticking things off Artie’s bucket list had brought the family closer together.

“We are really enjoying watching him enjoy life, we are getting a lot of pleasure out of it as well and I think it’s helping them to prepare for the inevitability of his passing,” she said.

“Chocolate is going to be planned for his last day because we will probably have to make the decision to euthanise him before he gets super sick, so chocolate is going to be his final one,” she said.

Ms Anderson also said the family was hoping Artie would make it past winter so they could take him on more vacations.

Originally published as Anderson family working to finish Artie’s bucket list journey