CLEVELAND — Suzy seems like any other dog. She’s happy, loves to play, loves treats.
She also enjoys spending time with Jennifer Lynch, her human. For Lynch, the time she’s spending with Suzy in this play park is time she didn’t think they’d have together.
“She was initially given a diagnosis of about three to six months after they sent the tumor out that they removed for testing, and it came back as a high-grade tumor,” Lynch said.
Suzy’s diagnosis was almost one year ago when Suzy was brought into City Dogs Cleveland, Cleveland’s animal control and kennel facility as a stray.
Lynch, who works at City Dogs, said once she saw Suzy she committed to becoming her hospice foster mom.
Lynch set out to make sure Suzy lived her absolute best life.
“2020, while for most of us was the anti-social year, . . . became her social year because she really was out and about doing everything she possibly could to see the world and experience everything that a normal dog might get to experience over a long lifetime,” Lynch said.
Lynch and volunteers at City Dogs created a bucket list of over 60 items for Suzy, and they have been checking things off all year.
“Volunteers stepped up and said, you know, I’ll take her, you know, on a boat. I’ll take her on a motorcycle out, you know, I do whatever,” she said.
Suzy’s latest accomplishment is being the face of Cleveland Magazines Pet Edition, which came out in March.
Lynch said Suzy has been able to do much more than anyone expected.
She said she has a feeling it’s because of the amount of love and attention Suzy has received.
“She’s comfortable. She’s taken care of. She’s loved. You know, she’s gotten to do so many great things and had such great experiences,” she said.
Love and attention that Lynch said would help many dogs.
“The more we sort of share stories like Suzy’s and people hear about the dogs that we have here that are amazing pets and do well in a home, you know, the more apt they are to give them a chance and an adoption,” Lynch said.
To see more of Suzy’s adventures or to find out how to support City Dogs, click here to visit the organization’s website or click here to visit their Facebook page.
