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NYC man takes dying dog Poh on bucket list adventure across U.S.

Veterinarians returned a terminal illness diagnosis for Poh earlier this year after they found two large and inoperable tumors in the 15-year-old dog’s abdomen and evidence of kidney failure.

“They [Doctors] were like, we can’t tell you [how much time he has left] but you could have days. He could be gone any day,” Rodriguez said.

Devastated by the diagnosis, Rodriguez, also known as DJ Neil Armstrong, from New York City, decided to take the dog he adopted in December 1999, at the age of eight weeks, from an animal shelter in New York City, on an unforgettable cross-country adventure.

He created a bucket list of places to visit and experiences to have. And taking off from their home in Queens, New York City, Rodriguez and his fiancé began the journey by car, visiting Baltimore, Maryland and Nashville, Tennessee, where the dog was treated to various luxuries, such as a night on a queen-size hotel bed and BBQ delicacies.

The trio visited the Graceland mansion of Elvis Presley in Memphis and other major landmarks across the U.S., such as in Washington, D.C., Las Vegas, Nevada; Lower Manhattan, New York and Sedona in Arizona. They visited San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge, Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los, Angeles California; Walter White’s House in New Mexico; The Goonies’ House in Oregon; the Santa Monica Pier in California, went for a swim in the Pacific Ocean and saw Time Square at night.

And during the trip, when Poh got too tired to walk, he was pushed around in a green “buggy” purchased for that purpose.

Beginning on March 6, the trio covered – in a period of seven weeks – a total of about 12,000 miles, visiting 35 U.S. cities. Rodriguez documented the entire journey on an Instagram page, #Pohthedogsbigadventure, he opened specially for Poh.

The page now has 3,000 followers.

Followers and pet owners from around the world have posted encouraging comments. Reacting to the comments, Rodriguez said, “I think this resonated with a lot of dog owners. They wish they could do stuff like this with their dog and spend these moments, but sometimes life gets in the way. I am super blessed that I have actually gotten to do this.”

#pohthedogsbigadventure: Coney Island Cyclone

#pohthedogsbigadventure: Coney Island Cyclone
Thomas Neil Rodriguez

Unfortunately, they were forced to abandon the trip and return home after Poh became too ill to continue. Rodriguez relates in an Instagram post how Poh experienced a painful seizure during the journey.

Now, Rodriguez can only hope that he is able to make his beloved pet comfortable and happy for the rest of his life.

He told ABC News, “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… It was a great trip. 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.”

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