Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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i dont really know where to begin. i spoke with jerry & his pawrents recently through e-mail. i know many of you were wondering how zeus was doing. i just wasnt ready to talk about his passing. im sorry and i apriciate everyones concern.
zeus wasnt doing well. he stopped eating, refuseing any food i had to offer him. (pizza, pork chops, ham). hes never done that before. he would turn his head away everytime id try to give him something. not like him at all. his cough was terrible and his breatheing was labored. and he spent all day just laying in one spot outside on the grass. i tryed to get him to come inside and he didnt want to. so, i brought his favorite blanket out and covered him up. when my husband came home from work i asked him if he could carry zeus in and he did. i could see that my zeus was nearing the end and he couldnt fight anymore. for me, zeus turning his head to food that day was enough for me to know that he was telling me, it was time. as much as i didnt want to believe that, i knew in my heart that he had enough. so, that night we took him to the vets to be "put to sleep". my husband had to carry him to the van. it felt like a long drive down there. minutes felt like hours. i sat in the back with zeus as he layed his head on my lap for the whole ride. when we arrived, i went in and the woman at the desk said we can wait in the van and she would come out to get us when it was time so we didnt have to sit inside with all the other animals and thier pawrents that were waiting to be seen for "regular" visits. while i was sitting out there with zeus, i was thinking "am i doing the right thing" and i wanted to just take him back home with me but i knew he wasnt gonna get better.
so, the time came when my husband had to carry zeus in. he then left and it was just me and my zeus. the vet gave me a few minutes with him before i had to say goodbye. i cried my eyes out and told zeus how much i luved him and how special he is to me and that hes gonna go to sleep and wake up in a new place with no more suffering. i held his paw as he took his last breath. it broke my heart to see him go but i know hes in a better place now. a place where cancer doesnt exist.
we took him home and had a private burial for him. hes in my yard. a place that i can go visit anytime and a place he loved so much. i dont ever want to go through something like this again. its a horrible feeling. a feeling of emptyness and sorrow. i just felt helpless. i wanted so much more for zeus. he deserved more but cancer took him from me less than two months after his amputation surgery. and i miss him very much. he will always have a special place in my heart.
everynight i pick out one of his favorite toys from his toy box and take it with me to sleep. it might sound immature but its my way of feeling close to him. i still "talk" to him when i look at his pictures. he will never be forgotten and always rememberd for the gentle giant he was that had to much love to give. he was so brave dureing his fight and i will always be proud of him.
-tara
R.I.P ZEUS- 10/23/08 - you will live forever in my memories
God Speed Zeus....run pain free at the bridge.
Tara, words can not express the sadness I feel for your loss of your best friend. Treasure your memories and soon your memories will become your treasures.
Janie & Calamity
Janie & Calamity http://www.trix.....gspot.com/
Tara,
I am so very very sorry. He was a very lucky dog to be loved so deeply, know what a gift you gave him in a lifetime filled with being loved.
My heart goes out to you. Try as best you can to be good to yourself- take his toys to bed with you, talk to him, talk to your hubby, talk to friends, talk to us, sit outside beside him in the yard... whatever helps give you some comfort through this terrible loss. And again, remember how lucky he was to have lived his life with your love.
Sincerely,
Christine
Tara - I am so very sorry to hear about Zeus. More than anything I wish we never had to go through this with our pets. I realize that we may all be strangers on this forum, but I hope you know that everyone on here will have you in their thoughts.
I think it's great that you've been picking out a toy each night - I would do the same thing! The day of Smokey's surgery, I kept his leash and collar with me and kept it close until the day I picked him up. There's something strangely calming about having items of the ones we love close to us in times like these. My childhood dog growing up, a springer spaniel named Ketchum, after she passed I took her collar, tags and all, and put it on one of my favorite stuffed dog animals - and to this day, I still have it in my room, proudly displayed and it's been 15 years. I can't imagine not having these things given how much love I've had for every dog I've had.
Please let us know if there's anything any of us can do - sharing amazing memories and talking about what you're feeling, absolutely welcome...
Our thoughts are with you...
Smokey and Tori...
Dear Tara,
I am very sorry to hear of your loss of Zeus. I share your pain.
He is now at a better place, running free.
My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Tara, we send our love out to you. My Mom already told you this over email, but she wants everyone else to know, that she sleeps with my purple sweater on her pillow every night. And my collar is now on one of my favorite toys, a brown, stuffed three legged dog, which goes in the truck with her and my Dad when they travel. These little momentos are so, so comforting. So do what you need to do, and cherish all of those memories any way you feel you need to.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Tara,
I know it hurts so. You tell your mind you did what needed to be done for Zeus. Your heart aches and it will take time to come to terms with what happened. I am sorry for your loss. I am relieved you were able to end his pain that this cancer causes. I know sometimes things don't seem fair but you have to believe God wanted him. It's so nice that he is buried so close to you so you can go back and still talk to him and let him know one day you'll be reunited. Hold onto the memories of the happy Zeus you loved. It will keep his spirit alive and in your heart.
With sympathy,
Kim&Buster
Kim & Angel Buster
"Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened."
–Anatole France
I'm very sorry to hear that Zeus had to leave and I'm sorry for the pain you're feeling.
BEYOND THE RAINBOW
As much as I loved the life we had and all the times we played,
I was so very tired and knew my time on earth would fade
I saw a wondrous image then of a place that's trouble-free
Where all of us can meet again to spend eternity.
I saw the most beautiful Rainbow, an on the other side
Were meadows rich and beautiful - lush and green and wide
And running through the meadows as far as the eye could see
Were animals of every sort as healthy as could be
My own tired, failing body was fresh and healed and new
And I wanted to go run with them, but I had something left to do
I needed to reach out to you, to tell you I'm alright
That this place is truly wonderful, then a bright glow pierced the night
"Twas the glow of many candles, shining bright and strong and bold
And I knew then that it held your love in it's brilliant shades of gold.
For although we may not be together in the way we used to be
We are still connected by a cord no one can see
So whenever you need to find me, we're never far apart
If you look beyond the Rainbow and listen with your heart
Darcy – tripawd since 16th October 2007.
***Darcy would love to be your friend on Facebook - just search for Darcy Deerhound***
Dear Tara~ I too, am so sorry you had to say good-bye to Zeus. You did everything you could and he is grateful, I am sure. You are in my thoughts and prayers for God's peace to rest on you and your family. You will see your sweet Zeus again one day... Take your time grieving; I've learned there are no rules~ just allow yourself freedom to do what feels right.
Sincerely,
Diane Riley
Tara - my heart is breaking for you this morning...I'm so very sorry. Thank you for sharing this with us as difficult as I'm sure it was to write. We have been thinking about you and praying for you daily.
You did the right thing and it sounds like you know that...I can't even imagine yet how one musters up the strength to release them from their pain. Knowing that he's in a better place where there is no pain and no cancer is a strong motivator I'm sure.
We love our guys...there is no immaturity" about that. I'm 100% pawsitive that I will do the same thing when the time comes for me...sleeping with their babies or anything just to be closer to their spirit.
I don't feel like I'm saying anything very helpful, I'm writing through tears for you...Zeus is at peace and I hope that you have some too - he was so lucky to have had you as his pawrent. We are here for you during this very difficult time and thinking of you and praying for you. Blessed be...
Love,
Heather and Zeus
Heather and Spirit Zeus - Our life changing journey…from the earth to the heavens…one day at a time…always together
Dear Tara, I am crying too. I feel for you. I guess everybody here understands wtih you. I admire your strength, I don't know how I'll be able to do what you did when the time comes--even with knowing that not being able to is selfish. You are a very self-less and loving pawrent. Bless you.
Tara, Zeus is now pain free. I too buried my dog in my backyard. I was crying the entire time I dug his grave. He was a big dog, so the digging lasted a long time, as I slammed the pick axe into the unforgiving New Mexico soil that we have, and then used a shovel to get clods of hard earth out of the hole. It took me a long time to dig his grave, and then I sat by his still body for a while an hugged him and whispered to him. As I lowered Ben into his grave, I could hardly see for all the tears in my eyes. I took a few days off of work, and basically laid out on a blanket next to his grave and wept. I placed his doghouse over his grave as a memorial. It says "Casa del Benny" on it, and has pictures of dogs running that I painted. These things are hard, and even though it has been more than 4 months from Ben's death, I am still missing him greatly. Dogs are just such a wonderful, temporary gift to us. It sounds like Zeus was one of those dogs that had a great life and a great owner. Take care.
Tara
We are so sorry to hear about Zeus. Just know he is up there with Jerry Dawg and the rest of the tripawds
Hugs and licks
Titan and Heidi
Dear Tara,
I just read about your beloved Zeus and I am so very sorry to hear of his passing. I am typing this with my face filled with tears. Thank you for sharing with us those last moments you had with Zeus. I believe his beautiful Spirit is around you and is sending you his love and reassurance that he is feeling free of his pain and in a wonderful place where there are endless balls to chase and toys to play with. He is with all of the other beautiful furry angels and they are having fun while they wait for their loved ones to meet them at The Bridge some day. Zeus will see you there some day but for now he would certainly want your heart to mend and know that you were the best mom ever and he will love you always with all of his heart. You and your husband are in my thoughts and prayers.
Luv Spirit Jake, Smooch, Baby Gus & Mom (Sherri)
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