Despite Cancer Diagnosis, Theo The Dog Is Living His Best Life

CRYSTAL LAKE, IL — Unlike many in 2020, and despite a terminal cancer diagnosis, Theo the dog has been living his best life. This has everything to do with his foster parents, Jenny and Scott Leach, of Crystal Lake, who took the 12-year-old golden retriever in this past summer after he was abandoned in a Walmart parking lot.

When he came home with them, Theo had several masses on his body, including a grapefruit-size lump on his testicles. Scott and Jenny would later learn he had testicular and pancreatic cancer, and due to his age, chemotherapy and other treatments were not an option.

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The Leaches have been fostering dogs for five years and have a soft spot for elderly dogs and dogs with special needs. They already had two other foster dogs and several other pets when Theo got there. From the get-go, having others, including pets around, seemed to be helping Theo, as his spirits appeared to lift and he didn't show any obvious signs of pain, Jenny Leach told Patch in August.

• Abandoned Dog With Terminal Cancer Has Bucket List

With that in mind, and as a way to make his remaining time as special as possible, Jenny Leach decided to make a bucket list for Theo. Local businesses soon joined in on the fun, and Theo started checking off wishes that only a pup could love — like a special dairy-free peanut butter ice cream made by Julie Ann's with bone meal layered with freeze-dried sardines and freeze-dried beef liver.

Now, Theo's been with the Leach family for over six months and is doing well.

"He has had a couple changes in his blood work that are causing us to have to change up a medication, but overall he’s happy, energetic and wagging his tail a lot," Jenny Leach reported in an email response late last month.

Here is a look at the bucket list items Theo has recently checked off:

• He ate the "area’s largest pup cup" at downtown Crystal Lake Starbucks

• He solved a Scooby-Doo mystery with his friends.
• Theo had a beer named after him from Roaring Table Brewery, Theo’s Octopus beer. His stuffed Octopus is his favorite and is actually the source of his first bucket list item.
• He sold T-shirts with his adorable face and octopus on them to benefit Live Like Roo, a non-profit organization that provides support and financial assistance to families whose pets face a cancer diagnosis.
• He was invited to a 5-year-old boy’s birthday party.
• He celebrated Taco Tuesday and rolled in the sand at the beach.
• He met some puppies.

• Dogs 'n Suds in Ingleside reopened for one day so Theo could host a special meet and greet. At the meet and greet, "Elvis" showed up, so Theo got to meet the King. Dogs were invited to the meet and greet in October, and attendees were encouraged to dress in '50s attire.
• Julie Ann's Frozen Custard released a dog ice cream called "Theo's Bucket." Theo was invited to taste test the ice cream, which is a dairy free peanut butter ice cream with bone meal layered with freeze-dried sardines and freeze-dried beef liver. "It will be sold by the pint and a portion of proceeds will go to Live Like Roo Foundation," Jenny Leach said.
• Theo recently had his portrait painted by an artist, which will be auctioned off to benefit the Live Like Roo Foundation.
• He had a song written about him by a Nashville music duo.
• He was a Hot Dogger Du Jour with the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile.

In the coming weeks, Theo is going to be getting in the holiday spirit. He will be bell ringing at the Jewel-Osco in Crystal Lake and meeting The Grinch and will be a special guest at a holiday light show home in Carpentersville on Dec. 13, Leach told Patch on Wednesday.

Theo will be at PetSmart in Crystal Lake on Dec. 14 for a "Read to Theo" event. Those wishing to enter for a chance to read to the pup can make e a $5 donation to BAARK Dog Rescue and sign up by Dec. 9. Instructions on how to enter are below.