Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Guardian Tahoe's family,
Your tribute to Tahoe is beautiful. Your words and thoughts really convey the special boy that Tahoe is. I say "is" because even though Tahoe's physical body is no longer with you his magnificent spirit is. Take some comfort in knowing that Tahoe was greeted by many other fellow tripawds when he crossed to the Bridge and they are running and playing and having so much fun...pain free. Also, trust that your beloved Tahoe will be waiting for you when you make that journey.
The pain of having to let Tahoe go will ease in time and it's ok to grieve as long as you and your family needs. Like others have mentioned there will be quite a few bad days with a lot of tears and some not so bad...but that's ok. We are here for you to listen and support you as you find your way through this last part of your journey with Tahoe.
Keeping you in my thoughts at this sad time...
Sahana and her Angel Leland
November 17, 2009 - June 30, 2014
May you finally be healthy and running free at the Rainbow Bridge. Until we meet again my sweet boy!
Stirling and family -
That was an amazing tribute (I just shed a tear myself at work). Our animals are not just pets, but they are family (sometimes they are better than some of our real family members - ha). I am sorry for your loss and hope that Tahoe is chasing tennis balls where he is now.
with sympathy...
KotasDaddy (Peter)
I am so sorry for your loss. I'm new to this site and it is truly amazing the amount of love everybody has. Tears are rolling down my cheeks as I hurt so much for you. I know that Tahoe is finally out of pain and probably running around giving all kinds of hugs and kisses to all of his new friends. Prays are with you and your family as you walk thu this season. Blessings, Max & Barb
You know all our hearts break with you, especially the hearts that remember the pain and ache as we have been where you are now.
Our words can give you comfort, and it is good to know that there are people out there that understand exactly how you feel. It's hard. It's effing hard. When you love hard, you grieve hard. When you love hard, it hurts.... and some people just don't get it. We do.
What a sweet boy!!! And you are so right.. they certainly do show us how to live life to the fullest on three legs!! They are the same dog they were with 4 legs, same slobbery kisses, same wet nose when youlease expect it, same stinky breath after they have gotten into something.. blech!
And you know that Tahoe will always be with you... nothing can take that away... not even this stupid disease that our sweet boys and girls have fought and said..."screw you cancer.. I'm still going for my walks, my swims, I'm eating my pig ears, and deer poop and you are not going to stop me today.. cause today is a great day!" Our furkids certianly live in the moment and teach us to be more dawg.
What a lucky guy to have all that pawrent love, and how lucky you are to have his love in your heart.. and the memories to share and smile at. Nothing will ever take that away....
Cancer is so limited
It cannot cripple love
It cannot shatter hope
It cannot corrode faith
It cannot destroy peace
It cannot kill friendship
It cannot suppress memories
It cannot silence courage
It cannot invade the soul
It cannot steal eternal life
It cannot conquer the spirit or destroy Tahoe's love that you have in your heart with his pawprint on it!
Christine.... with Franklin in her heart♥
Franklin, he was the Happiest Dog on Three Legs! Diagnosed 09/26/2012 with Osteosarcoma, amputated 12/4/2012. Had a wonderful 5 1/2 months painfree until he ran for the Bridge on 5/15/2013. Always in my heart, and always a guardian angel of my pack... You can follow his Tripawd Adventures, before and after, in my blog, Frank'n'Farter!
Dear Stirling and family,
so very sorry to hear about Tahoe, and we all here in this forum know how hard this moment of mourning and loss can be. Our dog's time in this Earth is shorter than ours and when we bring a dog into our lives we know that sooner or later we will have to say our goodbyes. You and your family were truly blessed with a wonderful companion, and were awarded 17 months of extra time with Tahoe, which is truly remarkable. You made the best of your time together, and now is the time to be thankful for having had Tahoe in your life.
Our thoughts are with you and your family at this moment.
Daniela & Johnnie
Our awesome Golden Boy was diagnosed for OSA in April 2014 in the proximal humerus, front-leg amp on 05/20/2014. Finished chemo (Carbo6) on 07/10/2014. Ongoing treatment: acupuncture + K-9 Immunity Plus ( 3chews) and home-cooked no-grain diet. Stopped Apocaps because of liver issues. Liver issues: controlling altered enzymes with SAM-e and Milk Thistle. October 17: started having seizures. Taking fenobarbital for seizures. April 18: started prednisone.
It's been a week and I still haven't found the words.......one week and two days.....
It's my privilege and honor to be on this journey with you and Tahoe....Mr. My Trooper Guardian Tahoe!!! You will ways be "my boys" and H appy Hannah and I will always be "your girls"!
We joined this site and made our first post within ten days of each other. We became instant friends and became a team. Happy Hannah and Tahoe both beat the odds and kicked their "poor prognosis" back in the gutter where it belonged!!
Tahoe had so much more living to do...so many more tennis balls to chase, so many more sausage biscuits and ice cream cones to eat, and loads and loads more blueberries and peaches to savor!!! Heck no! He wasn't ab o ut to miss out on one second of bliss with you.
But most of all, he wanted to hang around because he loved you soooooo much...and he loved being loved and spoiled by you soooooo much!!! You were his very best friend, as he was yours. And you both understood that bond at a soul deep level.
And when he let you know he was getting pretty darn tired, but still able to enjoy life...when he let you know he was looking forward to his next adventure through another open door....Tahoe KNEW with every fiber of his being that you loved him enough to let him transition forward.
And because you honored Happy Hannah and I with the privilege to be able to share this part of the journey with you also, I can tell you unequivocally, you made Tahoe soooo proud and he loved how you gave him the best celebration party ever!!! I know he's at the bridge telling everyone how great it was!!!
We've shared so much through other communcation, I don't have much to add.........
.....WAIT!..........WHAT THE HECK........SOMETHING JUST FELL OUT OF THE SKY...........
You aren't gonna' beleive this Stirling.........OMD............it's a piece of note paper with blueberry stained pawprints all over it!!!!!!! Let's see if I can make out what it says..................
"Dear Dad!
You are, and always will be my very best friend, as I am yours!!!! Know that ro be true!
I loved that you call me Guardian Tahoe.......because, just as you were my Guardian, I am now yours! I LOVE THIS JOB!!!
Oh, and when they passed out the Purple Hearts to all us newcomers, mine said TROOPER TAHOE
Thank you for all your love,all the fun and happiness! Cannot stop wagging my tail because you made me sooo happy!!! THANK. YOU!!! I HAD THE BEST TIME EVER!!!! I mean it... THE best time EVER!!!!
Love you with all my heart and soul,
Your Tahoe. "
Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!
I choked back the tears when I saw this last week too, Stirling. I'm so very sorry for your loss of such a wonderful best friend. I love the beautiful photo tribute to your amazing Tahoe.
And Sally's message from above is spot on...Tahoe and Happy Hannah are romping around like crazy.
Know that the whole Tripawds family is thinking of you and your family, and your heart dog Tahoe. The bridge now has an extra special golden boy.
Deb and Angel Lexie* Diagnosed at age 13. Tried radiation first; wish we had amputated upon diagnosis (even with lung mets). Joined Club Tripawd April 2014 & Lexie loved life on 3 legs! Advice: Start physical therapy as soon as your vet clears it, especially hydrotherapy if available :-) See Lexie pics here.
Hard to believe on the 19th a month will have passed since Tahoe crossed the bridge, as it just seems like yesterday, as the pain is still so strong!! This is the first time back onto the site since I posted about Tahoe's crossing, as the pain and memories have made it so difficult.
Some days are OK, while the other days I seem to get through the hours in a fog. I guess this part of the grieving process but it sure is tough!!
I wanted to thank everyone who posted with their kind remarks and thoughts. It means so very much to Tahoe and I, as I know many of you have unfortunately already walked in my shoes.
As part of my honouring Tahoe, I will be back to add my $0.02, where it may be applicable.
Stirling and Guardian Tahoe
"Tahoe" - Our Amazing Superman and Best Friend.
Dec. 01-03 to Aug. 19-14
Diagnosed with Periarticular Hystiocystic Sarcoma Feb 14-13; Amputation March 18-13, and diagnosed with STS April-14. Tahoe touched so many people while visiting us, leaving a massive void in our lives. Always Missed, Never Forgotten!!
So good to see you back. Yes, there are a lot of us here that know exactly what your are feeling. Take your time, dont try to rush through the grief. It seems everyone around us just wants us back to normal right away. Coming back here helped me a lot. Some others, it makes it harder. Everyone is different in how they process things. Just know that we are all here to help in any way we can. Lori, Ty and the gang
TY GUY, Best Black Lab ever! Diagnosed and had amp in January, 2014. Kicked MRSA's butt. Earned his angel wings on April 16, 2014. Run Free my boy and don't forget a shoe. Ty is a proud member of the " April Angels". Ty sent us Daryl, a Tripawd rescue in Sept. of 2016. Daryl is 5 +or -. We are also Pawrents to Chandler, a Border Collie mix who is 15 and 1/2, Lucy, a Corgi who is 7, 2 minis, 2 horses, and a feisty cat named Zoe. Zoe had a non skeletal Osteosarcoma removed in July 2015. No Chemo, she was at least 16. She is going strong although she is now completely blind. She is now close to 20 and her hobbies are eating and sleeping in front of her personal heater.
Stirling, I just saw Tahoe's banner after I read your sweet post on my thread about Lexie. Thanks for reaching out. His banner is beautiful!
I agree with everything Lori said, btw. We all grieve in different ways. Coming here makes it easier for some, harder for others. You need to do whatever feels right for you in the timeframe that feels comfortable. Everyone understands.
Coincidentally (or maybe not) just before Lexie went to the Bridge was when the tablet TinyMice change happened and I couldn't type on my tablet at all. I did my posts about Lexie from the laptop and then I would read everyone's replies on the tablet even though I hadn't made the type fix yet. It was good to feel connected even though I wasn't up for posting yet.
Take care of yourself and hang in there, one day at a time. Even though we miss her terribly, I'm sure Lexie is having fun with your Tahoe and all their new friends from the bridge.
Deb and Angel Lexie* Diagnosed at age 13. Tried radiation first; wish we had amputated upon diagnosis (even with lung mets). Joined Club Tripawd April 2014 & Lexie loved life on 3 legs! Advice: Start physical therapy as soon as your vet clears it, especially hydrotherapy if available :-) See Lexie pics here.
Stirling, it's so great to hear from you. I can't believe it's been month either. But when I see Tahoe's banner, and those sweet, gentle eyes and happy smile of his, I feel his presence so strongly like he never left. He never, ever will. That's just the way it is with our loved ones.
We know that it's not easy for many people to come visit after losing their beloved Tripawd, please never feel like you have to..just know that you are always welcome and a part of this family. Take your time and heal yourself, that's the most important thing.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
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