32 replies to this topic

[Nofal & Lisa Paulus]

Good morning everyone...and dear, dear Arda,

Yesterday evening we had to let our beautiful Neo go. We had managed to get his cardiomyopathy under control only for the tumor on his tongue to return with a vengeance. He had stopped eating for the most part about 10 days ago and we attributed it to a new antibiotic (Baytril) he was put on so we started him on an appetite stimulant about a week ago but his eating didn't improve. We elevated the dose twice but still not much eating. He would stand over his bowl as if to say "I want to eat...but I just can't." When the appetite stimulants just weren't working I sensed something was very wrong so I took him in to the specialist yesterday. The tumor had grown significantly and the poor, poor boy was having difficulty swallowing. Not a whimper and not a whine from him...he never let on that he was in so much discomfort. They could have bought us a few days or a week or two but I knew that very soon he would have difficulty breathing and I just couldn't bare the thought of my boy slowly suffocating let alone starving to death. So, we made the agonizing decision to let him go. He went in my arms with my tears all over his head. We are just devastated and I have a huge void inside me right now. Despite our profound grief, I am so so lucky to have been blessed with him for the past almost four years. I must have done one or two good things in my lifetime for God to have given me such a blessing...

Poor Lola seems just lost without Neo in the house. I took his favorite body pillow (which was ours but he had different ideas about it) for him to lay on during the euthanisia. I brought it home after and she sniffed it continuously for over fifteen minutes but refused to sleep on it last night...I have a feeling she knows he isn't coming home.

I want to thank you all for your very, very kind words to Lisa and I during Neo's illness. It has meant so much to us and it honestly makes me feel that little bit less alone because I know others know the wonder I have experienced by loving one of these beautiful souls.

Arda, I am profoundly and eternally grateful to you for giving me the gift that was Neo. All the boys and girls are so very dear to me and I wish I could bring a dozen of them home. But I can definitely open our doors to one more and with your persmission I would love to open up our home to another Dobie in the coming weeks.

God bless you all...

Nofal & Lisa Paulus  Neo_1.jpg   66.79KB   1 downloads

[Bumpette]

I am so very sorry for your loss. Thank you for giving Neo a very loving home, and for giving him such good care over the years. He was blessed to have been loved by both of you. You can tell he is very happy, loved, and content in that picture. Run free sweet Neo....

[dobie sunshine]

I am so sorry for your loss of Neo. My heart goes out to you and Lisa and Lola. Run Free Neo run free...

[Pam]

"I'm sorry" seems so inadequate at times like this but I truely am. He is a beautiful boy & as Lori said, the picture of contentment. Take comfort in knowing how happy is life was with you. You're in my prayers.

[Dobes & Feathers]

Sorry Nofal & Lisa for your loss of Neo
God Bless you

[Arda]

See you soon. Take your time. You did all you could do for him. Now God takes over.

[Nancy Robinson]

I am so very sorry, you did all you could do for him and he
knew it. He knew how much you loved him and he loved you.
I believe in my heart they know we are doing the best for
them. He is PAIN FREE, RUNNING IN A PEACEFUL PLACE
WITH GOD AND THE ANGELS TO WATCH OVER HIM

MANY PRAYERS AND SPECIAL THOUGHTS ARE SENT TO YOU
RUN FREE SWEET BABY RUN FREE




May I Go?
May I go now?
Do you think the time is right?
May I say goodbye to pain filled days
and endless lonely nights?

I've lived my life and done my best,
an example tried to be.
So can I take that step beyond
and set my spirit free?

I didn't want to go at first,
I fought with all my might.
But something seems to draw me now
to a warm and loving light.

I want to go. I really do.
It's difficult to stay.
But I will try as best I can
to live just one more day.

To give you time to care for me
and share your love and fears.
I know you're sad and afraid,
because I see your tears.

I'll not be far, I promise that,
and hope you'll always know
that my spirit will be close to you
wherever you may go.

Thank you so for loving me.
You know I love you, too.
That's why it's hard to say goodbye
and end this life with you.

So hold me now just one more time
and let me hear you say,
because you care so much for me,
you'll let me go today

[Diana]

So very sorry for your loss of Neo, he was loved and will be missed by everyone, but also leaves you with many wonderful memories.

[yahoosmom]

My heart goes out to you for your loss of Neo.Thank you for giving him the great life that he had.
Your angel will be watching over you now. Run Free Neo Run Free...........

[Karen A]

Nofal and Lisa,
There is absolutely nothing I could say that would make you feel better except to know how much we care about you. You did everything humanly possible to help Neo, but it was his time. We are blessed to be able to set our K-9 companions free when they begin to suffer and you did the right thing. That was one very lucky dog to be found by you and you gave him a life that so many animals long for....even more. I've been there, and I feel for you, and I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.

[MarlysMom]

I'm very sorry for your loss, Neo was blessed to have you both; you'll be in our thoughts & prayers

[doberpagegirl]

I am so so sorry for your loss of Neo. We pray for adopters like you, who will love with their whole hearts. Thank you so much for all you did for Neo, both before and during his illness. He is cherished, that is so apparent. Such a beautiful picture of him. I have tears on my cheeks for you and Lisa and Lola. I hope you find comfort in the fact that he had the best life, he was adored and pampered and he knows it. Neo is now healthy and happy and waiting at the bridge for you. Run free Neo...

[ella]

Nofal & Lisa
I am so very sorry for your loss of Neo. I'm trying to write this with tears in my eyes. so excuse the mistakes. Neo is at the rainbow bridge and he is running and playing and he is pain free. Just know you did everything that you could do for him and he loved you totally., Run free sweet Neo run free. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Love Ella & Bonnie

[Annie Moon]

There are no words...
I'm truely sorry.

[CAB]

I'm really very sorry for your loss.............

[LStevens]

Neo had the best of the best . . . you and Lisa to spend his life with, and to care for him when his health deteriorated. It is so hard to let them go, but you did the right thing. Now Neo is at the Bridge, pain free, and running with the pack. My heart goes out to you both, and Lola. You are in my thoughts and prayers. Neo will always be with you in your heart, and in your memories. Thank you for loving him so much.

Linda

[LuvmydobeApollo]

what a face... oh so beautiful.... i have been in your shoes.. it will get better... to win with cardio and to lose him to something else... it just sucks. im so sorry....
sharen

[Cheri]

Nofal and Lisa, I am so very sorry for your loss. Your deep love for Neo comes through in every word you write. How lucky you all were to have found each other! I understand how difficult it is to say good-bye, but you knew it was time and you had no choice. I know you will always have that empty place in your heart that he took with him when he left, but I hope that time will ease your pain and enable you to remember all the good times you had.

[Melinda]

My heart goes out to you. So sorry for your loss.

[Nofal & Lisa Paulus]

Hello All...

It's funny how there always seems to be an abundance of tears that fall from my eyes...I can only hope that one day that drip will get less and less and I know it will. Lisa and I had planned a vacation many months ago ago and we left four days after we let Neo go. For the most part I think it was good for us. We were in a place surrounded by beauty and a place that is very, very dear to my heart, Hawaii. But even surrounded with all that beauty and serenity and my amazing wife by my side that void persisted and it still feels like the air has been sucked out of me. I would gladly accept a lifetime of grief to have experienced Neo's love for only a moment. I have absolutely no regrets and I truly believe that Lisa and I were the ones we were blessed and not so much the other way around.

If you'll bear with me, I'd like to share a bizarre story, at least we thought it was very strange. We spent the second part of our trip on Maui which, is our favorite island. Well, on one of our last evenings we had a dinner reservation at this restaurant literally in the middle of nowhere surrounded by miles and miles of pineaple fields. As we walked up the path to the front steps of the restaurant I saw a silouette coming towards me from the darkness. When the figure emerged there stood in front of me one of the most beautiful angelic Dobermans I had ever laid eyes on, an almost exact replica of Neo in size, build, gait, eyes, snout...only his tail was intact. I immediately knelt down and this beautiful boy buried his head insdide my chest and nuzzled me for the next fifteen minutes as I talked to him. He was so, so sweet and gentle and I envied his parents. The only tag he had on was a dog license tag so there was nothing to identify his owners. Finally, one of the restaurant employees came out and said he had been hanging out there since early that afternoon and no one had any idea where he had come from. They assured me that they would make absolutely sure he was safe for the night so Lisa and I went in and got seated. I was no longer with Lisa but my mind was with this beautiful boy. Finally, a really nice couple volunteered to take him home to their place close by and promised to find his owners the next morning.

Someone on Maui knows what we all know.....how very, very special it is to be blessed by one of these guys.

Thank you all for your very kind words of support and encouragement, you all mean so very much to us.

Aloha,

Nofal & Lisa Paulus