Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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This year the February Furballs are together to share their Ammpuversary.
This year they dance with Angels on all four healthy legs!
I can't type to you about the how or why I'm so sad instead I just want to type about how GRATEFUL I am. I am so glad this this little guy waddled up to my husband's boot, rolled over for a belly rub and chose us in that very moment. I am grateful for 12 years of amazing adventure
I am grateful for the last 5 years, he adventured on 3 legs
I am grateful for Tripawds and all the amazing people that I befriended here. Thanks Rene for your wise counsel and support. Thanks Jim for your technical support and this amazing place for all of us to share our journey.
I am grateful for each moment and memory with the sweetest spirit that I have ever known.
I love you Bud and will miss you more than words!!
Ohhhhhhhhh we are so sad to read this Angel and very, very sorry. You have been a part of us for so long, it's hard to believe Bud's earthly journey has ended. Thank you for letting us know and reminding us to celebrate his amazing, long and happy life. The sorrow and heartache is heavy here, but in the end what matters is we rejoice in the many zillions of ways he touched sooooo many people.
What an honor it was to share your life together, we will always be grateful for all you did to take time to be here, to educate us about MRSA (we were truly clueless about it before you joined, thank you!) to remind us that with a fightin' spirit and love all is pawsible.
On behalf of all of us....shine on Bud, the heavens are so much brighter now.
xoxoxoxo
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I am so sorry to hear about Bud's passing. I didn't even know dogs could get MSRA until I read about Bud's story and heard everyone talk about him when I joined. Today is a very sad day indeed for our Tripawd Nation. We lost a wonderful warrior. Run free Bud. Go play with the rest of the February Furballs. I am sure they each met you there and welcomed you. I know how hard this is Angel and there is no time to our grief. Bud's legacy will live on here and help many others who fight MSRA. He will be a shining & guiding light for others.
My heart is breaking with you. I wish you and your family heart felt sympathy & prayers.
xoxoxxo
Michelle & Angel Sassy
Sassy is a proud member of the Winter Warriors. Live long, & strong Winter Warriors.
sassysugarbear.tripawds.com
07/26/2006 - Sassy earned her wings 08/20/2013
05/04/2006 - Bosch, Sassy's pal, earned his wings 03/29/19 fought cancer for 4 months.
"You aren't doing it TO her, you are doing it FOR her. Give her a chance at life."
I didn't know your story too well but I am so sorry for your loss. What an amazing and winning fight you had. You and Bud are an inspiration - always to our warriors and others fighting.
Much love and peace your way,
alison with spirit shelby in her heart (and little jasper)
Shelby Lynne; Jack Russell/Shiba Inu mix. Proud member of the April Angels of 2014.
October 15, 2000 to April 8, 2014
Our story: Broke rear leg in June 2013 - non-conclusive results for cancer so leg was plated and pinned. Enlarged spleen in September 2013 and had it removed and was diagnosed with Hemangiosarcoma and started chemotherapy. Became a Tripawd January 8th, 2014 and definitive Hemangiosarcoma diagnosis. Three major surgeries in 7 months and Shelby took them all like a champ only to lose her battle to cancer in her brain. We had 8 amazing extra months together and no regrets. #shelbystrong #loveofmylife
I am so sorry for your loss of sweet and beautiful Bud..... As everyone else has said, you and Bud have been an inspiration to everyone here, and from your personal experience, we have learned so much. He was absolutely a warrior, brave and strong, and knowing him as a loving Golden, definitely lived life on his terms.
He will never be forgotten here, and he was welcomed at the Bridge by so many brave pups and kitties, including my beloved Tripawd Polly, who is also a February angel. 🐾💜
{{{Hugs}}}
Bonnie, Angel Polly, and new crew
I'm so sorry Angel. Thank you for sharing Bud with us.
Fly high sweet boy! <3
Donna
Donna, Glenn & Murphy
Murphy had his right front leg amputated due to histiocytic sarcoma at 7 years old. He survived 4 years, 2 months & 1 week, only to be taken by hemangiosarcoma at 11 1/2 years 6/12/17
Read about Murphy's Life on Three Legs
You did your journey here long before I got her but I went back to read your story. The love you have for your beautiful Bud was epic! I'm so so sorry for your loss. Buddy's story will always live on here and thanks to your angel we will all benefit from you both. Fly free Warrior Buddy! You've earned those Angel Wings sweet boy!
Hugs,
Linda, Ollie, Riley & Spirit Mighty Max
I don't even have words to say how sorry I am to hear about Bud earning his wings. He was a true warrior and an inspiration to all of us. I am very sure that he has already met up with our Angels who went before, and they are having a huge party at the Bridge.
Kathi and the Turbotail April Angel...and the Labradork
Murphy is a five year old Lab/Chessie cross. He was hit by a car on 10/29/12 and became a Tripawd on 11/24/12. On 2/5/13, he had a total hip replacement on his remaining back leg. He has absolutely no idea that he has only three legs!
UPDATE: Murphy lived his life to the fullest, right up until an aggressive bone lesion took him across the Rainbow Bridge on April 9, 2015 and he gained his membership in the April Angels. Run free, my love. You deserve it!
Ohh sooo sorry. That sweet Bud is so loved bt his tripawd family. It hurts us all. We cry with you.
But I tell ya' what, this Golden has overcome every single challenge that was thrown his way. And he sure had a lot of challenges thrown his way!
Bud never gave up and you never gave up! You took all your cues from this gentle Soul....a gentle Soul with an incredibly strong fighting spirit. Last year you were hoping for one more Summer. In June you were so happy to see him rolling around on the grass with so much doggy joy. You made it Bud! You made that good Summer happen and then some!!
The care and devotion you have for Bud was, without a doubt, the foundation for all his victories. Your love knows no limits. Your connection, your Soul deep connection with Bud can NEVER be broken!
Bud's earthly presence CLEARLY has made a HUGE difference, life altering differences, to everyone who got to meet him personally, especially everyone who got to "meet" him here! The awareness you and Bud shared with us through his MRSA journey is a legacy that will continue on for an eternity here.
Without question, Bud came to earth with a purpose, a mission. He fulfilled that mission, knew everyone got the lesson, and decided to head onto the Bridge!
I always visuy Jerry handing out Purple Hearts for our brave heroes. Pretty sure he gave Bud at least a dozen!! Goodness k ows Bud fought and won one courageous battle after another!!
I knlw the void seems unbearable right now. The daily routine of care, of love and snuggles...so missed. We are all here for you and with you. This is not easy. The grief will seem unbearable and like it will never stop. It doesn't srop, it does fade and it does get covered up more and more with all the happy memories you and Bud shared. Promise.
We can never thank you enough for sharing Bud with us...and PICTURES! That puppy picture...then that grey muzzle picture...soop precious...we have to have more! When you can, please share more. Bud is a very important family member here and will ALWAYS love on with us and NEVER be forgotten!!
Sending lots of love and comforting hugs from all of us
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie
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!
As another member of the February Furballs, I want everyone here to know that Bud truly was as sweet and gentle as his pictures show. I got to spend a long weekend at his house and with his family and he was the true Golden gentleman. Bud sighed heavily every time his dorky Lab roommate Daisy got too pushy or stepped on feet or invaded personal space. Bud was patient and long-suffering with all her misbehavior.
Angel, you know I'd bring Bud back in an instant if I could. Since I can't, all I have to offer is the knowledge that Bud lived the life of a best friend, loved for simply being himself. He helped raise two kids and a yellow Lab and he was a good boy. Bud got to grow old and have a white face, and he got to be loved. You kept your promise and gave him wings when it was too painful to go on. Thank you for all you did for him.
Some of you may wonder, who are the February Furballs? They are a group of about 5 who joined the amputee club in February 2011, all within a week or so of each other. In the photos Angel shared above, they show Bud (Cowboy Bud), Rio (the Woo) and my Dakota Dawg (DD). There were a couple of others who drifted away from here, but those three above became close, fast friends. And Bud has the honor of being the last of the Furballs to earn his wings.
Old timers here will surely fidget and grump when I say it for the millionth time, but I'll say it anyway: You are not prepared for the changes that YOU the human will go through because of what your dog or cat (or llama or pig) is going through. Give it some time. You will meet people, either virtually or in reality, and you will be stretched and changed in ways you may not fully understand until your companion is gone. Whenever it happens, the true meaning of all you went through comes down solidly upon you, and the good part of it is that it rests on your heart. That feeling of heartbreak when they're gone is gently replaced by their spirit taking up residence in your heart. Which is exactly where they belong. Till then, wag as hard when you're with them as they wag when you come home. 
Shari
From abandoned puppy to Tripawd Warrior Dude, Dakota became one of the 2011 February Furballs due to STS. Our incredibly sweet friend lived with grace and dignity till he impulsively raced over the Bridge on 12-15-12.
Dakota's thoughtful and erudite blog is at http://shari.tr.....pawds.com/
Shari, thank you so very much for stopping by and sharing your eloquent pearls of wisdom. As always you can capture the essence of this journey better than anyone I know. Sending lots of hugs your way.
(Folks, I encourage you to read more about these unforgetttable Tripawd heroes pictured above:
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Shari,
Thank you for commenting on this one. You always gave me the most valuable advice and I appreciated it. I got to meet Shari in person and spend a weekend with her. I didn't get to meet Bud but sure would have liked to and I am sure he and his family are awesome. Shari gave me some advice after I found out about Sassy's lung mets that I always remember and try to pass along to others too. She said take lots of pictures not just of Sassy but with you in them. They will be the most treasured pictures you have. I never thought about it til she said it. I had very few pictures of Sassy & I together. I had lots of them of Sassy but not of us. Shari, told me all kinds of great advice.
Please make sure to read read about the February Furballs they were all great dogs.
Once again Angel I am so sorry to hear about Bud. I know those Furballs are having a great time on the Bridge til you all meet them again
xoxoxo
Michelle & Angel Sassy
Sassy is a proud member of the Winter Warriors. Live long, & strong Winter Warriors.
sassysugarbear.tripawds.com
07/26/2006 - Sassy earned her wings 08/20/2013
05/04/2006 - Bosch, Sassy's pal, earned his wings 03/29/19 fought cancer for 4 months.
"You aren't doing it TO her, you are doing it FOR her. Give her a chance at life."
Beautifully expressed from your heart Shari. Just beautiful. Thank you.
Michelle past on that little tidbit to me about taking lots of pictures (advice I followed with wild abanwon!) and some with me in them. See, Dakota Dawg is still touching lives!
Bud must have been so excited to see Dakota and Rio when he returned "home"! What a celebration!!
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 don't think I've ever read a post so eloquently written by all regarding the loss of a beautiful, sweet, fur-baby. It is truly amazing how the Tripawd nation beats as one heart.
Angel, please accept my condolences over the loss of your sweet, sweet warrior Bud.
xoxo
pam
Harmony became a Tripawd on 10/21/14 (MCT). She left us way too soon on 11/1/14.
"We miss you so much; our love, our heart, our Harmony."
- Pam, Ron and Melody, Meesha, Doublestuff and Mariah Carey
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