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Thank you for visiting my dear Nero.

Nero Tsai

Dead at age 13 years, 7 months, 1 week
On June 11, 2019 @ 11:54 am

Run like the wind
Across the Bridge
Over the Rainbow
Forever in our Hearts

BORN December 5, 2005
RESCUED March 3, 2016
DIED June 11, 2019 @ 11:54 am

3 years 4 months of an incredible Love unconditionally shared.

Eulogy For A Rescue Dog I Did Not Think I Could Love

I laid on a blanket, facing Nero. Holding his paws in my hands. Looking into his eyes so he would not be afraid to die. I felt the poison enter his bloodstream because his front legs stiffened then relaxed. Over the next three minutes, his body stiffened two more times. He stopped breathing. I continued talking to him telling him how much I loved him. I knew his body was dying but his brain could still hear me. His brain would soon cease functioning. I knew in his unconscious state he could still hear my voice. I continued talking to him as his Soul gently rose into God’s loving hands.

As horrific and scary it seems to most people at the thought of holding my dog’s paws and feeling and watching him die…I am reminded of my beloved Lincoln who I laid with and held his paws as he died in 2016. After Lincoln’s death, I could never have thought I’d have another dog. I was too hurt. I could not think straight. The truth is, I still needed some way to honor Lincoln’s Life…The honor, I realized, was to adopt another dangerous dog.

Lincoln begets Nero.
Death begets Life.

Tuesday June 11, 2019, exactly two weeks ago, after Nero’s death…looking back…I feel immense closure and profound peace of mind knowing that I was there for Nero to his very last instance of mortal existence. I was scared at the thought of watching my beloved Nero die, knowing I would be holding his paws and feeling his body spasm and die.

Yet being with my dog as he died is my closure. I was there for him. No matter what. I kept my Heart’s promise to Nero from the first day I met him at the cargo airport. I promised to be with him through his vicious attacks at me to the day of his final breath.

My dog knew I was there. Nero felt my hands holding his paws. Nero felt my face against his as he faded. My lips kissed his grizzled face. I was my dog’s very last vision and memory and voice that he knew and heard.

As I struggle to let you know of his death, I could not have asked for any other way to say Goodbye, I Love You, Nero.

I am at immense peace having been with my dog and holding him as he died. I shared his Soul as he carried onward and upward.

I laid beside you.
I held your paws in my hands.
I whispered
"You won't be in pain anymore."
I looked into your eyes.
I was your last memory.
You are forever my fondest memory.

I laid beside you.
I held your paws in my hands.
I whispered
“You won’t be in pain anymore.”
I looked into your eyes.
I was your last memory.
You are forever my fondest memory.

Lincoln taught me Loss.
Nero taught me Love.

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Love and Loyalty is forever. To the very end of days.

Nero was surrounded by the people that knew and Loved his Life.

Dogs fear being killed. I feared being killed by Nero during months of rehab and downtraining. Rescued by Save Rocky the Great Dane Rescue and Rehab Charity. North America’s largest Great Dane Rescue.

Knowing Nero had attacked people, in one case inflicting wounds causing 67 stitches when he dragged an adult from his foster’s couch onto the floor in a vicious attack, in Alabama. Nero had repeatedly attempted to kill prospective male adopters by grabbing onto their arms to drag them over the fence and into his foster’s yard.

Nero had repeatedly tried attacking me. Once he engulfed my entire head in his jaws, nipping both temples at the same time, drawing blood. Another time I triggered him and he rushed standing up on the couch while backing me against a wall, with a predatorial low growl. He was no different than a wild animal stalking me. Instead of leaving the room for safety, I sat back down on the couch beside him as he continued with a frighteningly quiet yet guttural growl. I held my left arm up as I reached out to establish Trust with Nero. My arm was positioned in front of me as a barrier in case he went for my throat to kill me.

There is no one that has lived through constant fear with giant predatorial dogs like Nero and Walter. These Great Danes were both deemed two of the most extremely dangerous in North America.

No one can ever understand my life’s journey to deliberately adopt a 140 lbs senior dog aged 10 years 4 months that no one in North America would adopt. Over 150,000 people saw his posts but he was considered too dangerous to downtrain, much less to adopt. He had been caged for 7 years for breeding, then the next 3 years he was painfully prong-collared on a chain outdoors in Alabama. Dumped at a kill shelter at age 10 years.

Can a very old dangerous dog be trained?

Master dog trainers said never. Could a very old dangerous dog be treat trained? Master dog trainers and international behaviorists said he was untrainable because he would not respond to treats and should be killed as there was no hope for rehabilitation.

I knew everything about the attacks. I saw the horrific wounds requiring 67 stitches Nero inflicted in Alabama. I was told he despised men.

Nero Tsai. He bears my last name.

The last weeks of his life, I would carry his 100+ lbs body outside to lay on his dog bed in the grass. I would help him pee. I manually helped him poo. Cleaned him up. Held a bowl of fresh water up for him to drink. Picked Nero up and carried him back inside. Laid him on my bed. Wiped off any residue urine. Cleaned his bum a second time so it would not rash. Put tissue paper in the folds of his legs to prevent moisture rashing. Covered him with a blanket. Softly kissed Nero’s face and told him I Love him.

All Life is precious.

Adopt Love.


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15 comments

  1. Made me cry for you and Nero all over again. I’m so glad Nero’s last years were filled with love.

  2. You have definitely obeyed your true calling in life. God has entrusted humans with His creation but it has been badly let down & betrayed. He has called you, me & many, many other animal loving warriors that never stop fighting for the welfare & kindness animals so richly deserve. It has been my life’s mission to rescue horses & dogs. It’s never easy making the hard decisions for our best friends that have become our family when they need our selfless love to give them their freedom from pain & suffering. Like you I comfort myself with the knowledge I have given them the second chance when no one else did & gave them the very best of me. I am sorry for anyone that has never known the love & loyalty of a dog, they have missed out on the most beautiful relationship you could ever experience.

  3. I ran across your story of Nero a few months back. I could look at his Snow White face and feel the peace and contentment you provided him and that’s what he is sharing with all his friends and offspring greeting him there. Here’s hoping in time another gentle giant picks you to be his human

  4. man that s heartbreaking but the poor thing finally got the love he deserved bless you

  5. Amazing story; you are a true hero and saint.
    Thank you for your amazing commitment. Tsai was so blessed to have you.

  6. I’m so sorry for your loss, what a tragedy. Thanks for all the good work you do rehabilitating dogs. I hope you save many more dogs and find them homes.

  7. So sad. I feel better knowing he was with you given his tragic life.I will check to see if the book is in our library. Thank you.

  8. What a wonderful story. I’ve rescued greyhounds for over 40 years now and am always there when they die. It’s hard but I couldn’t imagine not being with them and holding them until their last breath. This is what loving and knowing a dog is all about. Your baby obviously grew to trust you and that’s the most important thing to a dog. So many dogs need help so I hope you will be able to do this again and again – like I do for my greys – despite the heartache at the end. Fill your home with pictures of your boy and he will always be with you.

  9. So happy Nero Tsai knew love and compassion in his last years on this Earth. So many sweet furry souls never get that chance. Blessings to you for your foundation and love.

  10. I have cried buckets reading this. I too know that immense pain of losing your beloved pet. You are an amazing man and may God bless you richly for your Jesus heart for His beloved animals. Thank you form me for being such a good heart to all the animals who come your way. xxx

    1. How sad but, you are an angel Nero suffered all his life at the hands of cowards he was lucky to have you for the short life he had left after all the torture and pain, i am sure he new you loved him. God bless you for helping innocent defenceless animals.

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