Piglet’s Big Adventure: A Mission to Complete a Senior Dog’s Bucket List

By Talbert Toole
Lifestyles Editor
talbert.toole@hottytoddy.com

Just a few weeks ago, Mississippi Mutts—a nonprofit organization based in Oxford that helps to relieve overcrowding of local animal shelters—lended its services to an animal shelter facing the decision to euthanize a group of senior dogs.

One of those lucky dogs rescued by the nonprofit was Piglet—a senior dog who found love in a foster family.

However, Piglet’s new family began to notice she was having health issues.

“When she went into treatment for what we thought was just kidney stones, [the vets] discovered a tumor that is inoperable,” Mississippi Mutts founder Katie Muldoon said.

The news of the inoperable tumor was heartbreaking; however, Muldoon and the Mutts organization decided to turn the news into an opportunity to give Piglet the best remaining days of her life—Piglet’s Big Adventure: A Mission to Complete a Dog’s Bucket List.

By turning the situation into a positive one, Muldoon said it’s a way the nonprofit can advocate for the adoption of senior dogs.

“The take home message is that it isn’t about how many days you have left. It’s what you do with them that counts,” she said.

Mississippi Mutts is trying to let Piglet live the rest of her life to the fullest, along with being a “spokespuppy” for adopting senior dogs, Muldoon said.

A majority of senior dogs are euthanized because people prefer younger dogs over older ones because of their life expectancy, according to Muldoon.

With the help of LOU businesses, such as Uptown Coffee and The Cakery, Piglet is beginning to cross off goals on her bucket list.

One of the first goals for Piglet was to enjoy a “puppuccino” from Uptown Coffee, which she fully enjoyed. Another business that stepped up to the plate for Piglet’s bucket list challenge was The Cakery.

On Thursday, Aug. 30, Piglet made a stop by The Cakery where she received a “pup” cake decorated with icing, dog treats and pumpkin flavors.

Piglet’s next stop is to the local fire station and Mississippi Teacher of the Year Recipient Whitney Drewrey’s classroom, which will make Piglet lunch.

The remainder of Piglet’s bucket list consists of 14 items she plans to conquer heroically:

1. Eat like a piglet
2. Ride in a brand new Corvette
3. Find her zen
4. Eat like a piglet again
5. Be a K9 officer
6. Travel the world
7. Eat like a Piglet yet again
8. Be an Ole Miss Rebel
9. Start a fashion trend
10. Eat like a piglet another time
11. Be a firehouse dog
12. Meet a celebrity
13. Say “Are You Ready?!” before a football game
14. Sponsor the adoption of 20 senior dogs from Mississippi Mutt’s partner rescue, Wright-Way Rescue

The LOU community and animal lovers alike can continue to follow Piglet’s Big Adventure on her Facebook page.