McDonald’s Prepares Doggy Meal For Rescue Pooch With Terminal Illness

Image generated on AI

A McDonald’s crew put the golden in Golden Arches for a very special, good customer. Gooby, a terminally ill rescue dog, got her very own happy “McGooby Meal” thanks to staffers who went the extra mile.

On Facebook, Stacey Herriage, a PhD student and teaching assistant at Oklahoma State University, shared the story of how a routine stop at the fast-food restaurant turned into a memorable feast for her furry friend, who is battling inoperable liver cancer.

“Shoutout to the McD’s on the turnpike between Tulsa and Stillwater,” Herriage wrote, stating that the team prepared her special request “without question (despite the doubt/curiosity I could hear as I ordered) and served it with a giant smile upon seeing the recipient.”

Gooby, or Goob for short, has been a beacon of joy in Herriage’s life since her adoption from OK Save a Dog rescue center in Prague, Oklahoma, in 2018. Despite her grim diagnosis, Goob’s zest for life hasn’t waned. She relishes her walks around the campus, outings to dog-friendly pubs, and the occasional ice cream treat during car rides. But as the pup’s health took a turn for the worse, Herriage was faced with the tough decision of euthanasia.

Wanting to make every moment during Goob’s last legs count, Herriage decided to spoil her with a “McGooby Meal” of nuggets sans sauce, a plain hamburger minus the bun, an extra serving of apple slices, and a cup of water—hold the ice—at her local McDonald’s. 

Employees at the branch probably assumed she was a “strangely particular parent” or had a very picky child, she recounted to Newsweek. It wasn’t until they reached the payment window that the staff realized the meal was for Goob, seated proudly in the passenger seat.

With a big smile, they “threw an extra nugget in for the road,” making Goob’s day a little brighter.

This heartwarming tale has struck a chord with many, with one person on Facebook calling for McDonald’s to “make the McGooby meal a permanent menu item.”

“On my dog’s last day, he ate McDonald’s sausage and ice cream,” another pet owner empathized. “Gotta spoil them.”

Herriage was pleased to report that Goob thoroughly enjoyed her meal. “Goob gave it a 10 out of 10 for service and quality!” she proclaimed.

[via Newsweek, images via various sources]