My first dog, my best friend

At 17 years old my parents finally felt I was old enough to handle the work load of having a dog.  To say I'm a dog lover is an understatement, I adore dogs.  My favorite kind of breed is a German Shepherd and after a month of looking I found my forever friend.  A three month all black with brown paws puppy was soon running, pooping, and peeing all over the house.  I would be awaken at 4:00 A.M. by a waterfall of pee hitting my carpet, but he was still the cutest thing I have ever seen.  

The family and I decided on the name Koa which in Hawaiian means "fearless warrior".  We felt this fit him because he was known to try to jump out of his 5ft tall cage at the puppy store.  Soon Koa was a full grown, well trained dog.  He could sit, stay, lay down, and balance treats on his long nose and much more. He loved car rides so much a kidnapper just had to open a car door and Koa wouldn't think twice.  Koa was the best dog in the world, but on October 7, 2018 we would celebrate his fourth and final birthday. 

In March 2019, Koa was diagnosed with soft tissue sarcoma.  A common cancer in dogs that comes in three stages (stage three being the worst).  As I waited for the results of what stage cancer he had, I was confident he would be just fine because who gets his first dog and has to say goodbye four years later?  I found out that I would have to do just that.  He had stage 3 cancer located right on top of his spine/neck area.  Koa was given a week to live.  My whole life flipped upside down.  I had a week to say goodbye to my little puppy.  My mom had heard about a special medicine that could give him his life back or give him three more months so we decided to go through with the medicine.  Three months later on June 27, 2019 Koa Paulino Naputi would be put to rest.  

This is my first encounter with a close family member death and it is crazy to think how fast someone can be gone forever.  The concept of "gone forever" was very hard in the beginning because Koa had to be put down while I was 3,000 miles away in the Bahamas.  He was in good health when we left, but his health quickly began to decline.  For the first time in four years my family came home to an empty house. Dogs are only in our lives for a short time, but to them we are their whole lives.  Koa may have only physically been apart of my life for four years, but he will stay in my heart for a lifetime.  I love you Koa.  You are the goodest boy ever (excuse my grammar).