Kathleen Zuidema, a woman battling terminal cancer, has one dying wish: to find a home for her three beloved dogs.
“This is the hardest thing I have ever had to do. My heart is breaking and I’m sobbing as I write this,” Zuidema wrote on her Facebook wall on March 5. “As alot of you know I have been fighting cancer for about a year and a half and things are progressing to the point where I need to secure a home for the posse. They are a package deal.”
The former telephone operator continued: “It is a huge thing to ask of one person but the thought of them being separated is more than I can bear. They have always been together.”
Zuidema, 57, hopes her Australian shepherds Autumn Moon, 11, Moka Luka, 4, and Finnegan, 4, will find a home near hers on one of Washington state’s San Juan Islands (population: 7,000).
“I’ve lived an isolated life,” Zuidema tells Us Weekly. “I haven’t had much luck with people … they can be mean and cruel. My dogs are my everything.”
All three members of the “Aussie Posse” are providing comfort — but Zuidema has a special bond with her oldest, Autumn Moon. “Autumn will not leave my side, she knows what is going on. She’s been aware since it started and is very upset,” says Zuidema. “We have an unshakable bond, her and I.”
Zuidema is still interviewing prospective adoptive families. “I don’t feel great and this is all overwhelming,” she says, through tears. “I wish I had more time.”
To help contribute to Zuidema’s medical expenses, please visit her GoFundMe page.
