Poh, a 15-year-old yellow Labrador, is facing the end of his life — his kidneys are failing, and he has tumors around his kidneys and liver. When his owner, Thomas Neil Rodriguez, got the news months ago, he wondered how best to use the time they had left together.
“The doctor told us it may only be a matter of days, so we thought we could stay home and wait for the inevitable, or we could go enjoy life as much as possible,” Rodriguez — also known as DJ Armstrong, who has toured with the likes of Jay Z — told People.
Rodriguez decided to go out and enjoy life — and that took the form of a cross country trip to the West Coast. They took their time, turning the drive into a road trip for the ages.
“I always wanted to bring Poh to the West Coast so he could swim in the Pacific Ocean,” Rodriguez said. “That turned into a seven-week trip. We ended up hitting 35 cities.”
Thirty-five cities, all documented on Instagram. Like this shot of Graceland:
Rodriguez has had Poh since the dog was just eight weeks old, having found him at North Shore Animal League in Long Island, New York. Rodriguez said that Poh was great on the trip. “Fortunately, he has no problem in the car,” Rodriguez told People. “By the end of the trip, we had figured out the right supplements to give him, the right meal to give him, and he loved it as far as I could tell.”
“During the trip, people would often say, ‘Oh, he looks tired, can he make it? Is it good for him?’ Every dog is different, every situation is different, but I think he loved it,” Rodriguez told People. “When we were on the road, of course he’d be tired – he’s old – but the second he got out of the car, he would go explore and want to see and smell things and be outside, instead of just lying down around somewhere.”
Here’s a mini-photo tour of the pair’s trip; you can get the whole thing over at Poh’s Big Adventure Instagram.
Mr Director… I’m ready for my close-up! My parents said that I’m so important to them that I deserve my own star on the Hollywood Walk a Fame. #pohthedogsbigadventure A photo posted by poh the dog (@pohthedogsbigadventure) on
Between SF and LA there is this funny reststop casa de Fruta, a little oasis of nick nacks , dried fruit and little license plates with peoples names like Jane or John that you can give to your friends with normal names. They never have #pohthedog, but they did have this cool train 🙂 #pohthedogsbigadventure is back in Los Angeles for tonite’s #DinnerAndAMixtape at @eatatpot. Please go to http://bit.ly/dinnerandamixtapela for more info. I will be there from 7 to 8 pm tonite, would love to see u! A photo posted by poh the dog (@pohthedogsbigadventure) on
My parents came here to check out pikes market. They wanted to see the first Starbucks and see some fish getting thrown in the air but I had a tummy ache and I pooped in the car ?They have to clean up half hour. This is my shame face?. #pohthedogsbigadventure A photo posted by poh the dog (@pohthedogsbigadventure) on
My dad said that we were going to get donuts… Look at the size of that thing! I’m about to lose it #pohthedogsbigadventure A photo posted by poh the dog (@pohthedogsbigadventure) on
Cathedral rock in the background. Don’t you think you should come to #sedona now? #pohthedogsbigadventure from the top of mountains to river creeks… #roadtrip #dogsofinstagram #doglovers #dogs #pets #bucketlist #arizonahiking A photo posted by poh the dog (@pohthedogsbigadventure) on
So cool… I made it to the @moogmusic headquarters. If you are a fan of music in the digital age then u should know who Bob Moog is… Anyway that’s what my music snob dad @djneilarmstrong says. A photo posted by poh the dog (@pohthedogsbigadventure) on
Yes! We finally made it to Texas. Today we are gonna go through 4 states-Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas and New Mexico. One more state to go! #pohthedogsbigadventure A photo posted by poh the dog (@pohthedogsbigadventure) on
#pohthedog has made it to the west side of the USA so this is my first time my parents have giving me in-n-out. I’m 15 years old, and I’ve only just begun my life today. #pohthedogsbigadventure #dog #cute #dogs_of_instagram #pet #animals #petstagram #petsagram #photooftheday #dogsofinstagram #ilovemydog #instagramdogs #nature #dogstagram #dogoftheday #lovedogs #lovepuppies #hound #adorable #instapuppy #instadog A photo posted by poh the dog (@pohthedogsbigadventure) on
Belly rubs on the grass at the National mall In dc. Now that’s what I call presidential treatment. A photo posted by poh the dog (@pohthedogsbigadventure) on
Via People; see more photos at Poh’s Big Adventure on Instagram.
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