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All Tripawds members know about the emotional toll of high vet bills. Which is why a recent surge of personal fundraising appeals by new members has prompted us to implement this official fundraising request policy here, and on our Facebook page.

“The Tripawds Blogs community along with the Tripawds Facebook Page welcomes questions, advice, photos, videos and progress reports from all three legged dogs and their people. However, personal fundraising requests for purposes or organizations not endorsed by the Tripawds community will be removed without notice. Such pleas for help distract from our mission, which is to inform & educate while providing a platform of emotional support for all members.”

Why are we implementing this policy? Because Tripawds must remain a safe, welcoming, guilt-free haven for all members and guests. Nothing should ever intrude on this space, and we can’t play favorites by allowing some members to solicit financial help when others have refrained from doing so despite their own hardships. Others have indicated they feel these solicitations are inappropriate.

Such pleas for help will be reserved to support causes for the greater good – like keeping Tripawds online, and supporting the efforts of other animal welfare organizations.

Where to Turn to For Help

If members need financial assistance, there are several resources where financially distressed individuals can apply to. Please see: Tips and Resources: Resources to Help Pay for Canine Cancer Care

We hope the following clarifies our position on various types of fundraising appeals:

Tripawds Dog Blogs’ Personal Fundraising Appeals

Tripawds prohibits Chip-In widgets, PayPal buttons and other fundraising devices to be installed directly on Tripawds three legged dog blogs. Should members choose to conduct their own personal fundraising campaigns, we suggest doing so via ChipIn.com, a Facebook page or personal website. Announcements and links to fundraising pages may be included in posts on Tripawds Blogs, as long as funds are not received via the blog interface.

Official Tripawds Causes & Fundraising Appeals

Tripawds often supports organizations we believe in (and receive no financial compensation in return), such as Morris Animal Foundation and 2MillionDogs.org. We will continue to periodically select organizations like these that promote canine health and will occasionally conduct short fundraising campaigns on behalf of these groups.

If a member wants to help another great canine cause and tell the Tripawds community about their fundraising efforts, please contact Admin or Jerry first to ensure that the campaign fits within our mission statement.

Appeals for Fun, Games and Miscellaneous Dog-Related Organizations

If you’re participating in a “Make my Dog a Star!” type of promotional contest and you want to ask Tripawds members to vote for your pup, that’s fine as long as it’s not request for money. If the contest will generate funds for a canine cause (such as 2 Million Dogs’ calendar contest), please be sure to indicate such, providing details about how the funds will be used.

Tripawds.com’s Annual Fundraising Campaign Appeals

To keep this community online, Tripawds conducts an annual fundraising campaign to help defray hosting and maintenance costs. Without these campaigns, Tripawds would not exist as you know it now.

Until such a time when Supporter subscriptions, product sales and affiliate commissions compensate for our endless volunteer hours and out-of-pocket expenses, Tripawds will continue promoting this campaign on an annual basis. We promise, however, to clearly indicate where funding goes, keep solicitations to a minimum, and never spam or harass members for contributions.

If you have any comments or concerns about this policy, please let us know. We thank you for being understanding about this and sincerely appreciate your support!

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Get ready. Things are going to look different around here real soon.

The genius behind the Tripawds Community infrastructure, Admin Guy (aka Whipping Boy), is working late into the night to bring a new website “theme” to life.

New, Easier Site Navigation

This new theme will make navigating Tripawds so much easier, and hopefully reduce load times for all of our pages. You’ll be able to more easily find current news, member blogs and the latest Tripawd products.

Out with the old, in with the new.  Admin Guy has created a new look and infrastructure that will hopefully create a more user-friendly experience for the Tripawds community.

Of course, with all great new technologies, there may be a bug or two that gets in the way.

During this makeover, some things may appear to be broken, or missing. Please be patient, as we will do our best to complete the transition as quickly as pawsible.

You can also feel free to provide feedback in this Tech Support Forum Discussion.

We can’t wait to bring this new look to you. Thanks for all of your patience as we prepare to flip the switch. Your support helps make these improvements pawsible.

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The pup-a-razzi is already camped out on the lawn of the Sepulveda Basin Off-Leash Dog Park in Encino, CA., anxiously awaiting the arrival of three-legged celebrity dogs from as far away as Nevada.

That’s because on Sunday, December 19 at 11:00 AM, Tripawds from all over Southern California and beyond will make their grand entrance and gather to pawty in the name of good times and good friends.

If you’re nearby, we hope you and your three legged Tripawd hero will join us for the first ever Tripawds Party in Los Angeles.

The Tripawds Southern California Pawty Scoop

When: Sunday, December 19, 2010

Time: 11:00 AM

Place: Sepulveda Basin Off Leash Dog Park

17500 Victory Blvd, Encino CA 91408

View Larger Map

Park Maintenance Office: (818) 756-7667

5 acres off-leash and 0.5 acre small dog area. Dogs must be on leash near picnic area. Parking for 100 cars. On-leash picnic area. Public phones available.

Facility Features: Picnic tables, 0.5 acre small dog area, 6.5 acres of off leash dog park, on-leash picnic area, parking for 100, public phones.

Tell a friend, come one come all! Let’s make this the biggest Tripawds pawty ever!

Any questions, contact us via email, stop by the Tripawds Discussion Forum, or call 707-845-3129.

With 20 days left in the 2010 Tripawds Fundraising Campaign, we are thrilled to say that we’ve not only met our goal, we’ve exceeded it by $187!

We just can’t thank you enough for your generosity and all you do for this special community. On behalf of my pawrents, Wyatt Ray and myself, we are so honored by your kindness during a time of economic craziness. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

We’re hoppy to call this year’s campaign done, and hopefully we won’t have to raise so much next year. With our various Tripawds products, affiliate sales ads and product links, as well as exciting new projects coming down the pipeline, our goal is to make this a self-sustaining community without having to resort to yearly campaigns.

In short, here’s where the gifts came from:

• Direct Campaign Gifts = $8,129
• Tripawds Bandanna Sales = $380
• Blog Supporters Between June and Today = $245

• Subtotal Support = $8,756
• Less PayPal Fees = – $324
• Total Support Less Expenses = $8,432

If you’re new here, you can see how this money will be spent in our original fundraising letter. As a reminder, my people take no sort of salary for their efforts to maintain this website. We promise to use all discretion with your generous gifts, do our best to meet your expectations and periodically post updates about how your money is being used.

Many thanks to all you Tripawds Bloggers who added the Chip-In Fundraising Widget to your blog. Please be sure to remove it from the Appearance -> Widgets tab of your Dashboard.

Meanwhile, remember that the nifty name-your-price Tripawds Rule Bandannas will always be available here! Since we launched this product, sales have been brisk at an average price of $20! But we’ll gladly accept whatever you think is fair.

Finally, although our campaign is over for the year, please remember that Tripawds is a User-Supported Community. All Supporter blog subscriptions, PayPal contributions, and purchases made in our Amazon, Gear, Gifts, Nutrition and Downloads blogs help us continue to provide resources and support to canine amputees and their people.

With much gratitude and love to you and your Tripawd,

Spirit Jerry G. Dawg

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People say it takes a village to raise a child, and we believe the same thing can be said about dogs too.

Tripawds first ever Cannonpaw Run Rescue was a huge success, but it couldn’t have happened without the dedication and help of so many compassionate dog rescuers who dedicate their lives to finding homes for dogs like Miles.

Miles came to our attention when Tshuvah‘s Mom Beth, a Taos resident, originally discovered him at the local animal shelter. Miles caught her eye because of his unique quality. He was a Tripawd, just like Tshuvah.

Beth noticed he had been at the shelter far too long. Worried that maybe he would never get adopted because he was missing a front leg, Beth wanted to help, so she told everyone at Tripawds.com about this very patient, three legged dog.

Less than one week after Beth told the Tripawds community about Baggins, Angel Raven‘s Mom, Dawn, of Auburn, California, vowed to adopt the boy after seeing his photo on the Tripawds website.

That’s all it took for Tripawds members to coordinate a rescue road trip that took this lucky pup more than 1,600 miles to his new home. He was renamed “Miles” in honor of the many miles he traveled to get there.

The trip involved eight drivers across six states over a 48-hour period. We would like to thank our Cannonpaw Run drivers:

• Maria from Stay Hearts Animal Shelter. She drove Miles from Taos to Santa Fe.
• Dave Sarver with Basset Hound Rescue. He drove Miles from Santa Fe to Colorado Springs.
• Tripawd Nikki, Sasha and Angel Buddy’s pawrents, Mary and Ted, who fostered Buddy for the night in Colorado Springs, and drove him to Fort Collins.
• My Dad, Jim (aka Admin Guy), who drove Buddy to Salt Lake City.
• Jennifer Bunker, Dawn’s Facebook friend who drove Miles to Winnemucca, Nevada.
• Tamsen, Dawn’s friend in Winnemucca, who safely delivered Miles to Dawn in Reno.

Please visit Miles’ blog to see how he’s adjusting to life with Dawn and Bulldog Betty.

The Tripawds Rescue Forum is a free service, which often gets updated with new three legged dogs in need of adoption all over the country. Just since Miles’ rescue there have been three more dogs added. Please visit the Forum to add Tripawds you know are looking for homes, and help spread the word via our Tripawds’ Facebook page too.

The Cannonpaw Run was the first time Tripawds members have coordinated such a rescue road trip, and we hope there are many sequels to come!

In case you missed it, here’s a touching video Dawn made about Miles’ journey:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Each week since we began this campaign on June 13, we have been touched by the kindness of the people and pups of Tripawds.

And please remember, for anyone who wishes they could help but are going through hard times, remember, you can help!

Just give a moment of your time to

tell Ellen DeGeneres how this community has helped you, and vote for Spirit Jerry’s story in the “How do You .com?” contest!

Win an Autographed Copy: Guardians of Being

Did you know that your $50 gift (or more) will enter you in a drawing for an autographed copy of Guardians of Being, the insightful book by Patrick McDonnell and Eckhart Tolle? Just contribute $50 or more to our 2010 Tripawds Community Campaign!

This powerful book with words by Eckhart Tolle is a passionate, humorous, enlightening meditation on the power and grace that animals can bring into our daily lives, and we’re sure you’ll love it. Patrick signed the book for one lucky Tripawds contributor when we met him at the Tattered Cover in Denver.

Are You Ready for Your Close Up?

For every gift over $50, Tripawds member Cometdog will make you a a free custom video all about YOU! CometDog is itching to make custom videos of our Tripawds, so Chip in today!

Kathleen Mcachran, Mom to new Tripawd Ajax, chipped in, and qualified Ajax for a custom SmartyPants video from cometdog. We can’t wait to see how city dog Ajax lives life in the big city!

Paul just joined us this week, when he found out that his beloved pup Bronson has bone cancer. He doesn’t know if Bronson is an amputation candidate, but regardless, he gave generously to the campaign. Thank you Paul!

Ginger’s pack, Annie and Brian, also qualify for a smarty pants video! They sent us a touching letter that said:

“Knowing that we do not have to take this journey alone has been a great comfort to us. But not only that, we have made some great new friends, learned how to care for our tripawd in the best way and most importantly laughed and cried along with the greatest group of 2,3 and 4 legged creatures there are!

We hope our donation helps you spread the word about Tripawds so other families can become part of our special family and find solace in the tough times they may be facing.”

Now, please join me in congratulatory applawse to more generous contributors of the week . . .

Dawn Original Idea

Just yesterday, Tripawds member Dawn, mom to Miles, Spirit Raven and Betty, made this unique offer:

“I will donate $100 to the campaign in memory of Raven, if I can get help getting the blog started.”

Since Miles was our first Tripawd Rescue, we happily took Dawn up on that offer, and set up Miles’ blog. Read how he made it from New Mexico to California here. Dawn chipped in today.

More Applawse

Our dear friend Shahrzad, founder of Career Consulting Services, recently lost her longtime feline companion, Bell. Shahrzad chose to honor Bell’s memory, with a gift to our campaign:

“Dear Rene, Jim, Wyatt & Spirit Jerry, Please accept this small gift in memory of Bell, my sweet feline angel. He passed away this week. I thought of you and your love and courage when I had to say good-bye to him.”

The Tasha Challenge Continues!

Many thanks also to Tripawd Mom Leslie Cline, along her with Roxy and Dakota (aka: lesliec), for taking the Tasha Challenge! Leslie opted to generously subscribe, won’t you?

It’s easy; subscribe for an auto-renewing contribution at levels to meet your budget; either $25, $50 or $150 per month, for four months straight.

This safe and secure PayPal subscription will end after four months. Take Tasha’s Challenge Today!

And once again, our friend Diane, mom to Spirit Magic the Wolf Dog, gave to the campaign again! We can’t thank her enough for her ongoing generosity.

Now, is there anyone out there who wants to chip in too?

“There’s only us, there’s only this.

Forget regret, or life is yours to miss.

No other road, no other way.

No day but today.”

We’d like to start by thanking our contributors for the week:

• Mojo and Alex
• Spirit Tehya and Darlene
• Spirit Chaser and Mom, Kelly
• Kona Kai Cattledog and Mom Denise
• Maggie the Agile Cow Dog, and Tracy
• Storm, in honor of Koda’s 12 month ampuversary
• Spirit Magic, Spirit OJ, Whiskey, Casper and Diane (again!)

Fifty Bones Gets You a Custom Smarty Pants Video

Don’t forget a $50 gift will get you a Custom SmartyPants Production Video. Generous pawrents who took advantage of it this week include:

The Pugapalooza Pack: Spirit Maggie, Tani, Obie and Mom Karen, qualified for a Smartypants video. They contributed in honor of everyone who attended the July 10th Northern California Pawty “and in memory of Maximutt, Miss Cherry, Caira Sue, Tazzie two, Maggie and Jerry.”

Tripawd Charlie and Tammy, who says: “This is for a cool video, the $10 a head donation for the Madison party, and to pay my respects for the sack machine: Jared Allen.”

And finally, Wendy Grigg also gave big, and received this beautiful tribute video of Henri in return:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Fortis and Tasha Want You to Challenge Yourself!

Fortis’ Grandma Fay challenges all Grand Tripawrents to donate .50 cents per pound of their favorite Tripawds weight! Oh, she said why not just round up the Texas way while yer at it! Here’s an example:

Dog A has a body weight of 62 pounds

62 times .5 = 31, which when rounded up equals $50 bucks! And that qualifies you for a Custom SmartyPants Production Video!

Trucker Tasha’s Challenge

Tasha wants everypawdy  to contribute $ 50 dollars a month for the next four months. It’s easy to do it! All you need to do is subscribe for an auto-renewing contribution at levels to meet your budget; either $25, $50 or $150 per month. This safe and secure PayPal subscription will end after four months. Take Tasha’s Challenge Today!

Other Ways to Help

We know that funds are tight for everyone, and if you cannot give this time we totally understand. But there are other ways you can help!

Please vote for Tripawds daily in the How do you. com? contest!

Or, join the campaign to tell Ellen DeGeneres how much Tripawds has helped you, and ask her to help with the campaign!

Thanks for another great week everyone. Together, we are making this world a better place for our best friends.

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That Admin Guy is ferociously working on troubleshooting the Discussion Forums and sporadic speed issues happening right now. This is as close to rocket science as things get and it’s trikier than a Kong stuffed with peanut butter and biscuits.

The Forums are up, but you may be experiencing issues. We thank you in advance for hanging in there with us, and hope to have things back and running smoothly again today.

Please contact us with any questions, concerns and issues. Post any upgrade issues here too. You can also find us on our Facebook page.

Hang tight Tripawds, we’ll be back up and hopping around ASAP!

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OK pawrents, I’m not talking about dog tags here, but something almost as impawtant.

Have you ever tried looking for a specific topic in our three legged dog Discussion Forums, only to become overwhelmed by the sheer volume of posts returned by the built-in Search feature? Who has time to look through all those posts? You should be playing tag instead!

With almost 20,000 posts in our Discussion Forums (and growing every day), we are asking you, dear Tripawds Family Members, to please start including Tags in every new post that you start.

By taking just a few seconds to add Tags, you can help build the Tripawds knowledge base, and make it so much faster for all of us to find information we need.

What’s a Tag?

Tags are relevant keyword(s) about each topic. Each tag is a link to related topics containing the same tag. They appear in little boxes beneath every Topic title in each Forum’s overview page. You’ll also see tags at the top of all individual topics.

Clicking the “Related” button when viewing any topic will also return a quick list of links to similarly tagged topics.

How Do I Make Tags?

Tags can only be created when starting a new topic.

First, create your Topic and write your post, but before clicking “Post New Topic”:

1. Look for the “Topic Tags” field underneath your text box, to the left.
2. Type a few relevant words about your topic.
   • For example, if you’re asking a question about “power mushrooms,” make that phrase a Tag. Or if you want to talk about booties, then “booties” can be a Tag.
3. Can’t think of Tags? Click on “Get Suggested Tags From: Local Tags, Yahoo, Tag the Net”
   • We prefer to click on “Local Tags” first. This gives related tags from existing posts. Using existing tags ensures consistency, so that you don’t duplicate a tag with the same meaning or a different spelling.
4. If you are the first pawrent to cover a topic, keep Tags to a single word or short phrase. Type in lower case, and separate multiple tags by commas.
5. Remember, there’s no limit to how many Tags you can include, but a short list of specific Tags is better than too many slightly realtive tags.

A Note for Forum Moderators:

Forum moderators can add or edit topic tags after posts are created. If you are a moderator who feels like making a huge contribution to Tripawds, you can always add relative tags to existing topics.

Tags can be added/edited from Forum view – where Topic titles are listed – by clicking the small wrench visible to Moderators.

Thanks everyone, for helping to make this the best three legged tripod dog resource in the world!

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The Tripawds community has grown so much – in numbers and features – that sometimes important announcements and discussions tend to get missed. Recently the Tripawds Forums have been very busy, unfortunately, with talk of many heroic pups who have passed.

There are also lots of new Tripawds Blogs telling tales of many amazing three legged adventures.

Here are just a few recent items of interest from all over the Tripawds web site that members may find interesting…

Behind the Scenes Blog

We have a blog ring now.
Every Tripawds Blog is now linked together in a true Blogger style Ring of Blogs!

Supporters Demystified
All about Supporter Blogs and Premium Plugins.

New Easy Method for Embedding Videos
Instructions for putting movies in blog posts.
How to embed movies in forum posts.

Active Tripawds Blogs

Jake’s Life in Pictures
Beautiful Example of upcoming Flash Photo Gallery premium plugin. Stay tuned for details.

Travis Ray aka GSRNC’s Caruso
Codie Rae’s pack mate needs a furever home!

Raven is doing really well!
See his new movie in the forums.

Maggie meets new friends
Tri-pug Maggie meets Cemil

Support Tripawds while Shopping Amazon.com
Help keep René busy!

Random Tripawds Blogs
Browse random Tripawds Blogs.

Tripawds Discussion Forums

Tika has left us
May our hero rest in peace.

Winter Apparel
Discussion of warmth for amputee dogs

Tags Enabled on All Forums
Assign tags ro topics for easy cross-reference.

What Can Forum Moderators Do?
Member and Moderator capabilities compared.

Welcome New Tripawds Bloggers!
Subscribe to topic for new blog announcements.

The Tripawd Dictionary
The three-legged lexicon is growing.