Hi Darlene and Tehya

Welcome from another tripawd north of the 49th, over in Winnipeg. I am slow to see your story because I am on the road and maybe don't keep on top of the newbie stories as much as I ought to these days. I see you have had no shortage of input from other people. I know your mind is on other things today (I hope everything went well). I can make a few suggestions about gear on our side of the border.

Some pet stores do carry Ruff Wear products. There is also a company on this website, called "Chimpfeet" that sent me products. I just phoned in the order and they sent them by regular mail to Canada. Most the other companies on this website indicate they handle international orders, but I sure could not get them to work.

A life jacket will be important to keep Tehya balanced so she can put her swimming energy into moving forward. My Tazzie got a bit tipsy when he swam without a life jacket. I have a Portage life jacket (a different model of Ruff Wear but similar to the float coat) that I can send you. When I get home in a few days, we can check the size, but I am sure it is a Large. But when does the swimming season begin in B.C.? Can you actually swim during winter (if so I am ReALLy jealous).

You can ask the clinic if they have a sling to send home with you. I can mail you one that my clinic gave me, but it probably won't really get there early enough to be of much use. But if you would like it, I'm happy to do that. I found it handy to carry even a couple months later as insurance that I could help Tazzie home if needed. For walks, at least as winter approached, we tended to use the harness, but the sling was quick and easy to bring along for a short hop.

We had 4&1/2 months following amputation. Tazzie passed three weeks ago. Although the first month was not great (Tazzie was a slow-starter), I'd say the next few might have been the best of his life. It was a wonderful and amazing time, probably largely thanks to support from people on this website (and mostly thanks to our fearless leaders for starting this website). I expect the time would have been depressing if we didn't have people in the same mindset, that of enjoying each day and not worrying how long is left. Tazzie was happy and active until the day he died, at which point a secondary tumor and associated pain was starting to get the best of him. Dogs are amazing for how they seem to be able to keep a certain amount of pain in the background while they go about the serious business of enjoying themselves.

Susan and Tazzie in my heart