A heartbroken DJ has taken the terminally ill dog he has owned for the last 15 years on a bucket list adventure from coast to coast in a bid to make their final weeks or months together unforgettable.
Thomas Neil Rodriguez, also known as DJ Neil Armstrong, adopted his mixed-breed pet, Poh, from an animal shelter in New York City in December 1999, when the dog was only eight weeks old.
But earlier this year, veterinarians found two ‘very large’ tumors growing in the canine’s abdomen which were deemed inoperable. They told his devastated owner that he would not live much longer.
So, in order to make the most of the time he had left with Poh, Mr Rodriguez decided to take his pet on a cross-country adventure – and create a bucket list of experiences that they would do together.
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Bucket list adventure: Thomas Neil Rodriguez took his terminally ill dog, Poh, on a bucket list adventure from coast to coast. Above, Mr Rodriguez, his fiancée Goumada and Poh are seen in Sedona, Arizona, in March
Capital: Mr Rodriguez, also known as DJ Neil Armstrong, adopted his mixed-breed pet from an animal shelter in New York City in December 1999, when the dog was only eight weeks old. Above, Poh in Washington D.C.
his year, veterinarians found two ‘very large’ tumors growing in the dog’s abdomen which were deemed inoperable. Above, Poh is pictured beside San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge
Sunny day: In order to make the most of the time he had left with Poh, Mr Rodriguez decided to take his pet on a cross-country adventure. Above, Poh poses in front of lower Manhattan, New York City, on April 25
Mr Rodriguez purchased a green ‘buggy’ to push Poh around in when the dog struggled to walk or got tired. Above, Poh continues to explore the sights in D.C. during his trip, which was documented on Instagram
He purchased a green ‘buggy’ to push Poh around in when the dog struggled to walk or got tired.
At the beginning of March, Mr Rodriguez, his fiancée and Poh set off from their snowy Queens home and traveled by car to Baltimore, Maryland, where Poh slept in his own queen-size hotel bed.
Next, they drove to Nashville, Tennessee, where Poh indulged in some BBQ food, before visiting Memphis, where the dog joined tourists paying tribute to Elvis Presley at the Graceland mansion.
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Over the next seven weeks, the trio traveled around 12,000 miles to 35 U.S. cities, including places in North Carolina, Texas, Oregon, Arizona, Washington D.C., California, and Nevada.
However, they were recently forced to return home after 15-year-old Poh became too ill to continue traveling. Now, Mr Rodriguez tries to make life in New York as enjoyable as possible for his pet.
Poh the Dog travels cross-country in bid to complete bucket list
Hollywood: At the beginning of March, Mr Rodriguez, his fiancée and Poh set off from their snowy Queens home and traveled by car to Baltimore, Maryland, before visiting other places, such as California (pictured)
Spiritual: This photo, taken in Sedona, Arizona, was captioned: ‘#pohthedog is on the path of enlightenment’
Still here! This image was captioned: ‘Morning world! pohthedogsbigadventure still here to enjoy another day’
Party animal: Over the past two or so months, the trio have traveled around 12,000 miles to 35 U.S. cities, including places in North Carolina, Texas, Oregon, Arizona, Nevada, and many more. Above, Poh in Vegas
Heart-wrenching: However, they were recently forced to return home after 15-year-old Poh became too ill to continue
Speaking to ABC, the devoted owner said: ‘I’m unsure of how long [Poh will live]. Doctors are unsure. My assumption is that I don’t have very long with him and that’s what prompted the trips.’
He added: ‘I got to spend seven weeks with Poh. At first, I did not think he’d make it two weeks, but he did. I am super blessed. People think I take care of Poh, but Poh takes care of me.’
During the trip, Mr Rodriguez took to Instagram to document Poh’s experiences, regularly posting photos of the dog in an array of fascinating places with the hashtag, ‘#pohthedogsbigadventure’.
The page now has more than 3,000 followers.
On March 5, the owner posted the first image of Poh to the site, in which the dog can be seen peering out of the window of a car, his tongue wagging and his eyes wide, ready for the adventure.
Paying tribute: Pogh visited Memphis, where he joined tourists paying tribute to Elvis Presley at Graceland
Sunbathing: Mr Rodriguez said: ‘I’m unsure of how long [Poh will live]. Doctors are unsure. My assumption is that I don’t have very long with him and that’s what prompted the trips.’ Above, Poh relaxing in Sedona
Life of luxury: In Baltimore, Maryland, Poh got the chance to sleep in his own queen-size hotel bed (pictured)
First swim: Poh is pictured learning how to swim in a river in Austin, Texas, during his cross-country journey
Beginning: On March 5, Mr Rodriguez posted the first image of Poh to Instagram, in which the dog can be seen peering out of the window of a car. He also uploaded this one of him, his fiancee and Poh smiling in the snow
Alongside the image, Mr Rodriguez wrote: ‘Hi everyone, my name is #pohthedog.
‘I look like a pup but I’m 15 years old, 105 in dog years, and although I am young at heart and my mind is willing, my body is going through the natural process of old age.
‘My parents found out that I have a couple of very large tumors growing in my abdomen which are inoperable. So my dad @djneilarmstrong decided to give me a bucket list trip across the good old US of A… traveling from #nyc all the way to the west coast, from sea to shining sea.’
Over the past two months, Mr Rodriguez, his fiancée, known only as Goumada, and Poh have visited Breaking Bad’s Walter White’s house in New Mexico, and The Goonies’ home in Oregon.
Poh has also had the chance to swim in the Pacific Ocean. ‘I have always wanted him to swim,’ Mr Rodriguez said. ‘He loved it, it was so healing for him. It was like he was five years younger.’
Closer to home: Although Mr Rodriguez has since brought Poh home to live out his final days or weeks, he is still trying to make the most of their last moments together. Above, the dog is seen at Coney Island Beach
Sleepy: Poh is pushed on the New York beach by Mr Rodriguez’s young cousin, Lucas, after returning home
Can I not go on there? ‘I got to spend seven weeks with Poh. At first, I did not think he’d make it two weeks, but he did. I am super blessed. People think I take care of Poh, but Poh takes care of me,’ said Mr Rodriguez
Treatment: This picture was captioned (written as if by Poh): ‘We’re home now, but my IV treatments aren’t done. I’ll have to do them everyday, but at least now my parents have the proper equipment :)’
And the trio have visited the Hollywood Walk Of Fame in Los Angeles, California, the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, a theme park in Santa Monica, and closer to home, Times Square at night.
However, it has not all been plain sailing. Toward the end of the adventure, Mr Rodriguez wrote on Instagram that Poh had suffered from a ‘really bad seizure that caused him to ‘cry out in pain’.
Mr Rodriguez said his job enables him to travel around a lot, making the trip easier to organize. ‘I’m always traveling, but Poh is my home. I think this resonated with a lot of dog owners,’ he said.
The trip ‘was a little bit for him, a little bit for me,’ he added.