Dog Who Spent Years In A Cage Gets Bucket List Adventure

After nearly a decade spent suffering, Jada the dog is finally learning there's more to life than pain.

Earlier this month, she and her son were found starving and left to die confined to cages in the basement of a home in Syracuse, New York. After they were rescued, and their former owners charged with animal cruelty, caretakers atHumane CNY had planned on adopting both to a new home - but then theymade a saddening discovery.

Jada has cancer, and likely just a few months left to live.

Faced with the prospect that 9-year-old Jada's time on earth would pass without her ever knowing of any of the little pleasures life has to offer, her rescuers decided to make it their mission to show her.

So, they put together a bucket list, filled with fun activities and experiences for Jada to enjoy before she passes away - things like "go to McDonald's," "ride in a fire truck" and "be a TV star." And now, with the help of folks in the community, she's starting to check them off on by one.

On Monday, Jada's bucket list adventure began with a trip to a North Syracuse Fire Department station. There, she donned a little firefighter's outfit and welcomed inside a firetruck.

"Jada enjoyed her ride in the truck so much tonight she didn't want to get out!" Humane CNY wrote on Facebook.

The next day, Jada met with a reporter from a local TV news station. She even got to eat some ice cream.

Afterward, Jada got to check off another item from her bucket list: "ride in a police car."

As if all that wasn't enough, Jada even met with county officials - who declared a day in her honor. (It was also a very good day.)

Wednesday has shaped up to be yet another fun-filled day. She got to cross "eat a steak" off her bucket list.

She was also the guest host on a morning radio show.

Amid all the fun activities and the outpouring of support, the formerly mistreated dog is raising some much-needed awareness, too.

"As sad as Jada's story is we have seen an entire community come together and take notice that we have an issue with animal cruelty and neglect in Central New York," writes Humane CNY. "If Jada's story helps just one animal our journey becomes one of purpose!"

As time goes on, more items are likely to be added to Jada's lengthy bucket list, but the most important experience of all was fulfilled the moment the adventure began - to feel what it's like to be loved.

To learn more about Jada, and to track her bucket list progress, follow Humane CNY of Facebook.

The shelter has also started a GoFundMe page to help cover Jada's medical expenses.