PORTLAND, Ore. — A White Salmon man who turned his dog's terminal illness into a cross-country adventure has written a book about his experience.
Rob Kugler signed copies of his book, “A Dog Named Beautiful: A Marine, a Dog and a Long Road Trip Home,” at Powell’s Books at Cedar Hills Crossing, Wednesday night.
A few years ago, vets diagnosed Kugler’s chocolate lab, Bella, with bone cancer in her front, left leg. They gave her three months to live.
“We made the decision to take her leg off to remove the pain,” said Kugler. “Once I realized she was healthy enough to travel, we hit the road with no plan other than we're going, and she lived 18 months.”
Those 18 months were full of adventures across 43 states before Bella passed away. Kugler documented them in what would became viral Instagram posts and the basis for his book.
The journey was also one of unexpected healing for Kugler, a Marine veteran. While serving in Iraq, Kugler lost his brother there to an IED explosion. When he came home, Kugler also had a tough time adjusting.
“You've been a part of this amazing thing that makes you walk so tall, and when it's over, there's this huge, empty feeling,” said Kugler.
“I think that this book will let people know that they're not alone,” said Kugler’s girlfriend, Kristen Beatty.
Kugler and Beatty share two dogs now, Jasper and Max. Around the same time Kugler lost Bella, Beatty lost her golden retriever, Franklin. Beatty sent Kugler— then, just a stranger on Instagram— a message when he stopped in the Northwest.
“It said ‘welcome to Oregon,’ and there might have been a winky face,” said Kugler with a smile.
The two felt a connection, and the rest is history.
“Oregon was the 50th state and I stayed here,” said Kugler.
Kugler’s passion now is helping fellow veterans and organizations that help dogs. He said his journey with Bella is the reason he could finally open up about the pain in his past. He hopes he can help others do the same through three things.
“Life, love and loss,” said Kugler. “When you talk about those things and realize that every single person goes through those, you realize how alike we are.”