About 18 months ago, I adopted Cotton when he was five months old from Longmont Humane Society. He had been relinquished at 10 weeks of age due to a traumatic fracture of his right radius/ulna. 

About a week after I adopted him I noticed that the leg didn't appear to be normal.  I had worked as a veterinary technician for about 15 years, many of those as an orthopedic surgery technician, so I was familiar with angular deformities. Some time during the original injury or during healing he had bumped the growth plate and it was closing prematurely. He had three major surgeries but still had severe deformity in the limb.  About eight months following the last surgery he went lame again, it was finally decided that enough was enough and that would be best to amputate.

He has been so good natured about the whole thing, so much of his short life has been spent on severe exercise restriction & recovering from surgery. Everyone who meets him loves him so he is a great ambassador for the pit bull breed. The surgery practice has named a room after him & the humane society use his photo in their training ads.

I was very worried about his post surgery recovery as he is a big boy, 86 pounds and stilll growing.  But after talking with tripawd Lily's parents (Clay & Jody), visiting this website and reading your stories, and speaking to some veterinary friends (thanks Amy), and a few tears (!) I felt more at ease about the surgery.

He had surgery yesterday and was wagging his tail for the veterinary staff only a few hours after surgery.  He came home this morning and is doing well.  He has spent most of today sleeping but is doing well with learning to rebalance himself.

Thanks for sharing your stories, they were a great support.

Hi Cotton!

Welcome to the Tripawds family! Pitbulls are such strong and courageous animals – you will see, you will be 100% in no time!  I also have a pitbull, Selma – but she is not a Tripawd.  My Tripawd, Dee celebrated his 1 year ampuversary last month!

All the best!

Lots of love, hugs and licks

Ansunette & Dee xxx

Cotton is the hugest, most handsome goofball around.  We've known him since he was in the shelter, just a tiny baby piglet with a cast.  How excited I was when Clay said we might get to be his foster parents!  How lucky he's been to be with you, E.

Thanks for all your support.  Cotton is doing great, in fact I have to encourage him to take it easy!!! 

Regards,  Ellie & Cotton

PS He is still that goofball!!!  He makes me smile/laugh several times a day. 

How adorable!!!  Cotton is so precious he looks like a doll :)  I like that they're both smiling and posing.  You go Cotton and Lily!

Rene, thanks for posting the pic. 

Cotton was very taken with Lily though I think he's a little immature for her tastes!!  That is, he is a goof ball that hides his brains well!!! 

Shanna, I hear you on the pitties, I have a special place for them in my heart.