Hi all!  Wow, we just discovered this site today and had to join immediately, this is fantastic.  I'm Stacey (working on our profile:) and I'm Pinot's mom; Pinot is a 9lb Chi mix (a bit o'min pin, a dabble o'terrier, a touch o'chi and a whole lotta personality!), we adopted her 3-years ago (she's now 4) and she was at that time 2 months post-op.  We didn't know our Pinot with 4 legs, although we did see pictures. According to Brookes Legacy (shelter we adopted Pinot from) Pinot sustained a "dislocation" that never rec'd medical attention, the paw eventually lost blood supply and basically became nothing more than a kick-stand.  The vet decided it would be best for Pinot – to remove the paw and – - it and so it went.  

She's a happy, bouncy, sweetheart who loves to play, run, take long walks and at the top of her list – snuggle.  Our lives have been forever changed for the better because of her.  I can't imagine life without our baby!

I have a question; I've tried probably 10 different persuasions of harnesses and none have worked well at all.  The primary problem is that the left paw strap (she's missing the left paw) rides up and the whole harness starts to turn and she gets uncomfortable and we get frustrated.  I've read a number of posts recommending the rough-wear harness – but I'm very reluctant due to the strap problem.  I'm looking for any recommendations/suggestions you/the forum may have.

Hello to everyone here and thank you for creating such a fantastic site!  I'm so happy to be a member.  So is Pinot :)

Stacey and Pinot!

Hi Rachel so glad to hear Bailey has done so well. My furry buddy is having his left rear leg amputated at this very moment at Ark Animal Hospital in Surfside Beach. I am nervous, scared, excited to get Colton home. I'm praying all goes well and maybe one day we can get our tirpawds together at one of our dogparks in MB. After reading all of these personal stories I feel much better about Colton's life on 3…

Hi all – weighing in on the "will my dog do everything he/she did before" question  – YES!!!  And pretty soon, too.  Bailey is super lucky that there is no residual illness. 

This description from someone above:

The only thing Gerry truly can't do his scratch his left ear with his back left leg – cause it's not there.  It's pretty sad when his stub starts going, wanting to scratch that itch – but I've gotten pretty skilled at finding that itch for him!  He runs (really runs), he jumps (though less jumping is best – don't need the extra stress on the remaining legs), he plays, he digs, swims, goes up and down stairs, etc.  Results vary, but with a young, otherwise healthy and uninjured dog, your tripawd should be able to experience all the joys of being a dog

is pretty much exactly what I would say about Ajax.  Everyone on the site knows I'm technically inept but you can see from  my avatar that it's not slowing him down much at all.  AND …if your dog is a ham like mine (and it looks like Bailey may be), all the extra attention for being a tripod is something to look forward too.

If you want, if you search "Ajax" you can see me posting all the things he did as he recovered.  We did take him on a hike with a scramble up  some rocks a little too soon – he was fine but I almost lost it.  Otherwise, he was the perfect judge of his capabilities.  Last weekend we had a guest – huge 10 month old yellow lab.  Ajax is 9 years old.  Well, the "guest" kept putting himself on his hind lengs to hug me – biggest lab hug I have EVER seen.  Finally Ajax got so jealous that he too bounced up on his one remaining rear leg to hug me!  Obviously I don't encourage that, but it was pretty great.

Hang in there and good luck!