YORK COUNTY, PA (WPMT/CNN) - Twelve weeks ago, Mr. Molson’s days got a lot more exciting.
“He’s always here for people, so this gives us a chance for everybody to come back out for him,” said Mr. Molson’s owner, Tim Griffin, who created a bucket list for the 12-year-old golden retriever after he was diagnosed with cancer and given only months to live.
Friends from all over York County have joined in to give the dog, who's causally called Molson, the best days possible,
“Everybody was sad, and partially with the kids, I wanted to try to take it as an opportunity to be less negative about it,” said Griffin, a single father of two. “It’s been 12 weeks. We’ve had a lot of fun.”
Molson has done more in the last 12 weeks than many people do in a lifetime, including becoming an honorary firefighter with the Yoe Fire Department, a sergeant with the Pennsylvania State Police and president of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 229.
While Molson’s days are numbered, the Griffin family knew they had to find love for the dog who has loved them so much. So naturally, they held a wedding, complete with a flower girl - Molson's human sister, Chloe - and an ordained minister. And of course there was a bride. She's a black Lab named Josie.
Tim Griffin’s son, Elliot, considers himself Molson’s brother.
“My dad had the idea that Molson would get married, and someone was willing to let him get married,” Elliot said.
Wagging down the aisle, the pups entered into dog matrimony in front of their loved ones, giving them the opportunity to thank Molson for his unconditional love. Tim Griffin said he’s teaching his children a lesson in letting go, and the kids are doing their best to accept that Molson is going to leave them soon. And Elliot said as sad as he and Chloe are, they are preparing for it.
“There’s gonna be a lot less going on, ‘cause he’s an important part of the family,” Elliot said.
While it’s not on his list, being a big brother is quite possibly Molson’s biggest accomplishment yet, Chloe.said. When she heard Molson’s days were nearly over,, she said, “I started to cry, because he’s been there for me for a long time. There wasn’t a day that I didn’t know him.”
Tim Griffin said Molson has been his shadow for more than a decade.
“When I come home and he’s not there, just not having him by my side all the time, I think is when it’s really gonna sink in,” he said.
For now, though, the family is making new memories.
“In death, we can celebrate life, and that until we take our last breath, we can still have a lot of fun, and we can still impact people around us,” Griffin said.
For Molson, there has been no shortage of treats or tears from loved ones along the way.
Griffin set up two web pages for Mister Molson, one where people can follow his adventures and another one that allows people to donate to canine cancer research.
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