Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hello Everyone -
Mara finished her last chemo treatment on Thursday! Yay!!! Unfortunately her tumor is Her2 negative, so she doesn't qualify for the Osteosarcoma vaccine study at Penn State. However they did say that often Her2 negative tumors are less aggressive, so we are hopeful. The Irish Wolfhound Foundation has been very supportive and may try to find another study somewhere in country she may qualify for as there are several going on. We shall see.
Her canine massage lady contacted use last week, because she is giving a talk at the local vet school. She wanted a video of Mara moving to share with them. I uploaded it onto YouTube - this was taken the evening of her last chemo:
Mara is in excellent spirits and just wants to do everything like normal. We have gone on daily off leash walks since winter finally left us (or the snow at least), and she no longer has to wear a boot.
Mara is a field champion, and today we went to local lure coursing. Since she is Tripawd, she is no longer allowed to compete. However the local coursing club graciously lets her do a practice when the trial is over. She was very unhappy to wait so long to run, but when it was her turn, she ran like a champ on her 3 legs. She caught the bags and shredded them to pieces (as is her favorite part of lure coursing - killing the "bunny") with a crowd of people cheering and crying for her!
Also here are a few photos:
Doing the "Happy Run" with Lyra
I know this picture is a bit blurry, but I couldn't believe this shot I got when I got home and looked the pictures! On one leg!
I don't think there are any feet on the ground in this photo!
Beth & Mara
Mara looks fabulous! I can't get over how beautiful she is. Glad first chemo went well. Keep it up.
Esther and her Snoop
Looking good Mara!!! And even though she can no longer compete (which should be changed, by the way!), I'm so glad she got to do a practice run and shred that bunny!! 
Mara is a champion tripawd! Silly rules dictating that she cannot compete anymore - their loss - she rocks!
Cheers
Linda and Tucker
Oh wow what a GREAT, hoppy update! Yay Mara!
Thanks for letting us know how she's doing, we're all cheering her on and sending our love.
Now about the lure coursing....boy that is such a bummer that Tripawds aren't allowed to compete. That group should take a clue from the AKC, even they let Tripawds like Bart compete in hunting dog field trials. Do I hear a Tripawd rally coming up?! 
She is simply amazing, we love how she's such a great ambassador for Wolfies and giant breed dogs in general.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Online
MARA, YOU ARE A STAR!! YOU ARE OUR HERO!! YOU ARE OUR CHAMPION!!!
You touched the hearts of every single person who saw you on that course shredding that....."bunny"!! I got al choked up just reading about how much you enjoyed doing your run and how evdrybody cheeredz!!
HIP HIP HOO RAAAAAAAY for yoh Mara AND Beth!!
And the award for FIELD CHAMPION OF OUR HEARTS AND SOULS goes to MAAAAAARA!!!! The winner of our hearts and the champion of courage!
Love and hugs!
Sally and Happy Hannah
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!
Thank you, guys! All your responses brought tears to my eyes!!!! I tell everyone I can about this website and forum. What a great group of supportive people.
I will tell you the story of lure coursing - I was having a great guy make an urn for a couple of my hounds that passed away in November/December (so awful - within a week and half of each other my oldest and youngest wolfhounds - and then Mara with cancer in January - what an awful winter). He said he was at the lure coursing years ago where a 3-legged whippet who was a super good courser got 1st place. The owner of another dog was so mad her dog got beat by a 3-legged dog, she made such a contestion, she got ASFA to change the rules! The 3-legged dogs don't pass inspection at the start because they are considered lame. How sad. It makes me saddest, because I know Mara would still love to run in competition. Though that isn't really the purpose for me even before she was a tripawd. I just love to watch her run, because she has such a good time! I will have to check if the AKC allowed tripawds to run in coursing.
Love (and I will say love, because I love your positive attitudes, your kind words, your healing spirits, and most of all your love for dogs that are fighting hard and devastating diseases),
Beth & Mara
What a bad sport that person was! Seems like the ASFA needs to define what 'lame' means. Looking at Mara she is anything but lame!
She is beautiful!
Karen and Spirit Maggie
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
Great update on Mara. I am so glad to hear she is doing so well. Keep kicking butt Mara.
hugs
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."
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