Massachusetts mayor travels to Victoria during cross-country journey with dying dog

Mura, who has terminal cancer, travels on a ferry to Victoria with owner Attleboro mayor Paul Heroux. (Paul Heroux).

It’s a trip both dog and owner will likely never forget.

When Paul Heroux, the mayor of Attleboro, Massachusetts, learned that his 10-year-old Japanese wolf dog only had months to live, he decided they would go on a cross-country journey and make a stop in Victoria where his furry friend was born.

Mura was diagnosed with hemangiosarcoma, an aggressive form of blood cancer, in September and by October, the pair was on the road.

They went across 24 states and 13,600 kilometres in just 12 days, seeing sights such as the Grand Canyon, Niagara Falls, Mount Rushmore and the Golden Gate Bridge.

“Mura doesn’t know she has terminal cancer so don’t tell her,” Heroux posted on Facebook. “Just let her think she is the little princess that she is going for the best ride of her life. Dogs love to go for a ride.”

When Mura and Heroux arrived in Victoria on Nov. 2, they saw Mura’s breeders. She also got the chance to play with some other Japanese wolf dogs.

Heroux and Mura got back home on Nov. 9.

“She thinks that 8,451 miles set a new ‘Wanna go for a ride?’ standard,” Heroux posted on Facebook upon their return.

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