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Tripawds’ Annual Holiday Chat is happening all day on Sunday December 25 in the Tripawds Chat Room.

Hop on by to say hello and and pawty with new and old friends alike. Let’s toast to our Angel Tripawds and celebrate those who continue to kick butt on three legs!

I’ll be there with my pawrents and Wyatt Ray. Come over so we can thank you with a big ol’ “Paws Up!” for all that you give to this amazing community.

Since we’re in California, we probably won’t show up until after the morning mimosas have been poured, about 10 am Pacific / 1:00 pm Eastern. But, if you’re there when we’re not, keep your chat room door open and wait to see who might stop by!

Meanwhile, thank you from the bottom of our hearts to everyone for another year of love, support, information and camaraderie to Tripawd families around the globe. We may come from different corners of the Universe, but together, the Tripawd Spirit makes us One.

With gratitude,

Spirit Jerry, Rene, Jim & Wyatt Ray Dawg

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Maintaining the Tripawds community takes time and money, but in the spirit of supporting pawrents in need, we don’t charge a membership fee.

Long time Tripawds members recall that we hold a yearly fundraising campaign to help offset our out-of-pocket expenses. But this year, we’re doing something different. There will be no weekly appeals, no Chip In Widget, nothing.

Instead of a fundraising campaign, we’re asking you to do whatever you can to help us avoid future fundraising campaigns. There are many ways to help your community:

Direct Support

• Become a Tripawds Supporter by upgrading your Three Legged Dog Blog
• Show your support with an ongoing Tripawds subscription for as low as $5
• Make a gift of any amount on our Support Page

Give Tripawds Gifts

• Name Your Price for a Tripawds bandanna to help spread the word
• Buy a custom holiday heirloom ornament made by Tripawds member ET Gayle and Sister Charon
• Feature your Tripawd in a custom version of the Tripawd Heroes book
• Give a copy of Tripawd Heroes to the special people who’ve helped you in your  journey
• Visit the Tripawds Etsy Shop to order and give handmade Tripawds necklaces

Start Your Internet Shopping Here

• Shop for anything through our affiliate partners
• Visit and order from our Gear, Nutrition, Downloads or Gifts blog
• Begin your Internet shopping here in our Amazon blog

Spread the Word

• Download Tripawds promotional materials and spread the word at pet supply shops, dog parks and more! Spirit Hope’s Mom Barb, in Cincinnati is doing this, ask her how!

We hope these suggestions can help us reach the amount we raised during last year’s fundraising campaign. We don’t like asking for help, but keeping this community going takes money and time that affiliate advertisements alone don’t support.

Remember, your generous gifts of any amount will keep the lights on in the Tripawds doghouse. Thank you so much for your enthusiasm and support, Tripawds wouldn’t exist without your help!

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Spirit Jerry, October 1, 1998 to October 3, 2008

Jerry, has it really been three years since the last moments when we rubbed your velvety ears and smelled your sweet puppy breath?

Time moves so fast, but your spirit, your lessons, your life, stay forever young and always a part of us. Even as you soar through the heavens, you continue to do your job, spreading the word about all that really matters in life . .

Like when you paid a visit to our friends who were visiting Bangor, Maine, a few weeks ago. They knew you from the PBS show, but never got the chance to meet you in pawson. One day they decided to grab a beer, and being dog people that they are, decided to head downtown to visit the Sea Dog Microbrewery.

As they roamed the bar to check out the dog mementos, something made them look up on a wall full of pictures. And who, out of the hundreds of photos tacked to the wall, barked out to them?

You! In this early Tripawds business card that we left in the bar, the day you hopped in on all threes and charmed all the bar flys, back in September, 2007.

Thank you for making our friends smile, and bringing back so many good memories of that momentous occasion when you reached the East Coast, despite all odds.

Fear not, brave Spirit Jerry. For today we will will not grieve, or cry.
We will cast aside our tears and celebrate your life!
Here’s to you, a very special pup who will go on living in the hearts of many,
from sea to shining sea.

Click here to view the embedded video.

In Memory of
Jerry G. Dawg, Fearless Leader and Furever Friend
October 1, 1998 – October 3, 2008

Always leading the pack, showing us what really matters in life.

Thanks for teaching us that no matter where we are or what we’re doing . . .

Every day’s a great day!

Every situation, every moment — is of infinite worth;
for it is the representative of a whole eternity.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Jerry G. Dawg, Tripawds Founder and Chief Fun Officer
Born, October 1, 1998

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Every Tripawd has a great story to tell, and we want to share yours with the world in the newest edition of Tripawd Heroes, a collection of three-legged love stories.

From now until September 19, 2011, we are accepting submissions of photos and stories from Tripawds members who want to star in this book. A limited number of pages are available to share stories so please read on for details and act now for your best chance to be included.

Inspiration Instead of Fundraising

Since love alone cannot pay to keep this community online, all proceeds from this book will go directly toward defraying the costs of keeping Tripawds online. This special project is our latest effort to avoid another annual fundraising campaign. That’s right, with this project and the various other ways to help support Tripawds, we hope to never ask members for money again.

Instead of endless fundraising appeals, you can get a beautiful full-color, 7″ x 7″ soft cover book featuring the inspawrational stories of amazing canine amputees. Act now to include yours! The books will make great gifts for veterinary offices and help keep Tripawds online. It’s a win-win for everypawdy. The price has not yet been set, but since we will only receive a couple bucks from the sale of each book, no discounts will be available to those who participate.

How to be Featured

Tripawd Heroes will feature a number of inspawrational dogs who have been active participants of the Tripawds Community over the past four years. Remaining pages are available for up to 12 stories. Each dog featured will receive one page with 3 to 5 photos. Exemplary photos may warrant full-page presentation.

This Tripawds photobook will be available for ordering by mid-October. The first 12 members to submit their story will be considered for publication. Here are the details:

• Submission Deadline: Monday, September 19, midnight
  
• Story length: 250 words maximum
• Can be about Tripawds past and present, single or multi-Tripawd families*
• Photo Requirements: 3 to 5 high quality photographs (300dpi minimum)
• Please include name, city/state and your Tripawd’s milestone dates.
• All three legged dogs welcome! Tripawds is not just about cancer.
• Include your Tripawds blog address, if applicable.
• Participation is limited to Tripawds members only. (Register here.)
• Submit stories in the body of an email to jerry with photos attached, or compress your images together (.zip or .sit) and use the Tripawds contact form.
• Please be aware that space constraints may prevent us from including all stories, but read on for information about upcoming editions.

*Stories with more than one Tripawd will be featured on the same page.

Customized Books Will Be Available

Anyone who misses this deadline will have the opportunity to be featured in a future edition. In addition, customized versions of Tripawd Heroes featuring your story – and your dog on the cover – will be made available for an additional fee. Stay tuned for complete details.

Create Your Own Photo Book Now!

Can’t wait for the new Tripawd Heroes? Want your very own book telling your dogs story in detail? Create your own custom photobook using Blurb!

On behalf of everyone who finds value in being a part of this community, thank you for your continued support and participation!

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Yesh! That silly Wyatt is right about one thing.

Tripawds Moms Rock!

Here’s a big shout out to all the Tripawds moms out there!

But I must say, mine truly is the bestest. She showed me the greatest time any dog could ever ask for.

She kept me alive and loving life through that whole cancer business.

She let me go in peace when it was time to head to the Bridge.

And now she keeps the mission alive as “Jerry” in the forums.

Momma makes me proud for sure.

As far as monkepawdboy “taking me” – he better mean for a run by a lake, or he’d be sorry. He kinda reminds me of that Santo character. I showed him a thing or two and he had four legs!

Click here to view the embedded video.

Created with love by Spirit Jerry’s People, the Tripawds Etsy store is one way they are doing their best to make Tripawds a self-sustaining community.

Shop Today, Shop Often

The Tripawds Etsy store is stocked with an ever-changing selection of unique jewelry items for pawrents with a passion for three legged dogs. Our current offerings include several different glass pendant designs of front and rear-legged tripod dogs.

Now you can wear your Tripawds Pride with style and flair! And remember, every purchase helps to defray the costs of maintaining the Tripawds community. The more three paw tripod dog jewelry that sells, the less frequently we’ll hold Tripawds fundraising campaigns (our ultimate goal is to not have them at all). It’s a win win for everpawdy!

So Many Ideas, Such Little Time

Since we rarely make more than a few designs of each, you’ll see that the selection of artwork is constantly changing. We’re also ramping up our capabilities to create more jewelry items for humans and dogs, which we’ll announce as we create them. As our jewelry-making skills grow, we’ll be sure to include these one-of-a-kind items in the Tripawds Etsy store for everypawdy to enjoy!

Tripawd Gifts Has Something for Everypawdy

If our new Tripawds charm necklaces for humans doesn’t rock your world, check out our recommended dog theme pendants, lockets and jewelry. Remember too, that the Tripawds Gifts Blog contains a huge selection of commercially-produced t-shirts, memorial pendants, keepsake boxes, frames and much more. Check back often for new item announcements or review all Tripawds designs available on a multitude of three legged dog apparel and gifts.

Again, every purchase made here will help cover the costs of maintaining the community. But, if you’re not a shopper, remember you can always support Tripawds directly by clicking here!

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Over the years, members have told us how useful Tripawds.com is for them. Some have generously given to this community, and many more ask what they can do to help out.

To answer this question, we created the “How to Support the Tripawds Community” page. This is where we describe how members can help support our efforts to keep Tripawds online. For example:

• Shopping in our Featured Blogs
• Subscribe as a Tripawds Blogs Supporter
• Naming Your Price for a “Tripawds Rule!” Bandanna
• Starting an Automatic Gift Subscription from $5 on Up

From sharing what you know about canine amputation to throwing a bone in the Tripawds Tip Jar, all of these contributions will help the community thrive (like the recent site upgrade to improve performance).

Never in a million years would we have thought that one little blog about my bone cancer journey would create such a supportive community, both online and offline.

Today, it’s a 24/7 labor of love for my pawrents, who don’t get paid to bring you the information, resources and infrastructure you know as Tripawds.com.

They get a lot of personal satisfaction out of doing what they do, but unfortunately that doesn’t cover the costs of keeping us going.

Whatever and however you can chip in is greatly appreciated and may be able to help us avoid future fundraising campaigns.

If you’re already here, you’re well aware that once you go down the Tripawd path, nothing is ever the same. Thank you for being here to hold the hands and paws of old, new and future members. Together, we’ll make sure that nobody has to hop this road alone.

Sadly, all of us experience it at some point, but we don’t have to go though it alone.

Tripawds will always be a place to turn to to share the good times and sad ones, to celebrate and to reminisce.

When you need more information to turn to for comfort and help, here are some ideas. Be sure to check the Grief Support tips on our Resources Page too.

We’ll update this regularly. If you have any good resources to share, please let us know in the comments section below.

Tripawds Discussion Forum: Coping with Loss

Question Yourself to Prepare for Loss
Tripawds Founder Jerry asks, “Which would be worse: the pain of missing your pet or to watch his condition deteriorate?”

Thoughts on Grief
Spirit Indi’s Mom shares her method for coping with loss; “The work is to find the balance and be at peace with the empty space. Don’t try to fill it up, hard as it might be. Because it is what it is. It is what it is, says love.”

Anticipatory Grief: Trying to Cope with the Impending Loss of Tshuvah
Tripawd Mom Beth wonders how she will cope with the loss of her beloved Tshuvah, who was just diagnosed with hemangiosarcoma.

On Deciding to Say Goodbye and How to Know When “It’s Time”
As Henri’s condition deteriorates, his Mom wonders, “Why after all of this, am I second guessing myself, feeling guilt, questioning whether it is the right time etc? I guess part of me believes he will get better, but I think I know what the truth is.”

How to Decide About at Home Euthanasia
A healthy discussion that anyone facing end of life decisions for their dog should hear.

Inspawrational Quotes
Quotes to inspire and bring peace to broken hearts.

Jerry’s Story: Coping with the Inevitable

Jerry lived with osteosarcoma for 24 months. Toward the end of his time on earth, he and his pawrents chronicled the emotional rollercoaster they rode.

Buying Time on an Emotional Budget
May 19, 2008: When it comes to cancer treatment, it’s not about what things cost. It’s about maximizing quality of life and preparing for the inevitable.

Acknowledge There is Nothing to Lose
August 24th 2008: Jerry ponders Steve Jobs’ quote, “Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose.”

What to Expect Next. . .
September 17, 2008: Jerry talks about the progression of osteosarcoma lung metastasis in his body, and maintaining a pawsitive but realistic outlook.

Saying Goodbye: How We Knew (part 1)
November 1, 2008: Spirit Jerry says “I’ve always tried to be upfront about my cancer, so in the next two blog posts, my pawrents and I feel strong enough to share the details of our last hours together.”

Free Companion Animal Grief Support Counseling

The Argus Institute
The Argus Institute is staffed with professional clinical counselors who give free information and emotional support to pawrents facing hard decisions surrounding their animal’s health care.

Tufts University: Pet Loss Support Hotline
Tufts veterinary students work alongside trained psychologists to help provide one-on-one counseling with grieving pet pawrents. There is no formula or time limit. Staff members listen, realizing that no two callers or situations are alike.

ASPCA Pet Loss Support Hotline: (877) 474-3310

Ohio State C.A.L.L. (Companion Animal Listening Line): (614) 292-1823

Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine Pet Loss Support Hotline : (517) 432-2696. Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. (Eastern time)

Cornell University Pet Loss Support Hotline: (607) 253-3932
6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday -Thursday evenings (Eastern time)

University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine “C.A.R.E. Pet Loss Support Hotline”: (877) 394-2273

University of Florida Pet Loss Support hotline: (352) 392-2235
Leave a message and someone will call you back within 24 hours weekdays; weekend calls are returned on Monday.

Hospice Care Resources

The Animal Healing Project presents organizations, articles and resources for home hospice care for companion animals.

Home Care Tips for Your Terminal Pet, by Alice E. Villalobos, D.V.M., VCA Coast Animal Hospital and Cancer Center, California.

The Nikki Hospice Foundation for Pets shares pet loss support and resources.

Pet Loss Support Page teaches us how to define “quality of life” for an animal.

Grief Support Books

“The Legacy of Beezer and Boomer: Lessons on Living and Dying from My Canine Brothers” was the most powerful tool my pawrents found to help them cope with the emotional toll that cancer took on our pack.

“For Every Dog an Angel” Celebrates the Bond between humans and their beloved canine companions.

“How to ROAR and Recover from Pet Loss“ is a step-by-step guide to recover from the loss of your best friend.

Children and Pet Loss

Tips for Responding to Children’s Needs During Pet Loss from the Argus Institute.

Tips for helping children cope with pet loss from the ASPCA.

General Pet Loss Comfort

Christine Davis, author of “For Every Dog an Angel,” presents a guide to coping with grief and loss.

The ASPCA’s Guide to Pet Loss

Read Our Review of Heartsmith Pet Memorial Lockets.

See the Tripawds Remembrance Page for Pet Urns, Memorial Boxes and More.

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Get ready. Things are going to look different around here real soon.

The genius behind the Tripawds Community infrastructure, Admin Guy (aka Whipping Boy), is working late into the night to bring a new website “theme” to life.

New, Easier Site Navigation

This new theme will make navigating Tripawds so much easier, and hopefully reduce load times for all of our pages. You’ll be able to more easily find current news, member blogs and the latest Tripawd products.

Out with the old, in with the new.  Admin Guy has created a new look and infrastructure that will hopefully create a more user-friendly experience for the Tripawds community.

Of course, with all great new technologies, there may be a bug or two that gets in the way.

During this makeover, some things may appear to be broken, or missing. Please be patient, as we will do our best to complete the transition as quickly as pawsible.

You can also feel free to provide feedback in this Tech Support Forum Discussion.

We can’t wait to bring this new look to you. Thanks for all of your patience as we prepare to flip the switch. Your support helps make these improvements pawsible.