Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Six years ago I went to a local rescue to adopt a senior dog and give it the best life I could for however long.
I brought home Nellie (my name for her) , an older, very gentle black dog that had been at the rescue for over a year. And on the way out, Bob da' hound (my name for him), caught my eye with the sweetest smile😁 Supposedly a 'senior " too.
So I came home with two beautiful souls. The ride home with Bob and Nellie was trul beautiful. They bonded instantly and settled in for the carride HOME. Honest to goodness, they knew they had just won the doggy lottery! This was in October 2013. Hsppy Hannah was diagnosed in December Everyone became best pals.
Within the first three weeks, maybe less, someone left the gate open and he got out. I was heartsick! He didn't know where home was yet! Oh, but he did!! TEN DAYS LATER, I hear a whimper by the back door and there was a very skinny, exhausted, Bob da' Hound!!
Bob was diagnosed with bladder tumor last July...advanced. I won go into all the details of how many appointments this guy had for in-home euthanasia back in July that just didn't happen for one reason or a other. But I had a stash of fluid bags, antibi6 and Piroxicam to keep hu0im "stable and comfortable. Nope, Bob had noooo intention of leaving his earth clothes a time soon! He rallied bigtime! Happy, bou ce, smiling self! Then there would be a dip in his condition, thinking it was time. Utilized the same strategy as before, and he would rally again and again! The bonus time was SPECTACULAR!!! He got a mother great Summer, Fall, Christmas, and some days of Spring creeping in these past several weeks. He loooooved sunbathing. He was completely incontinent, but I could care less! And it didn6 bother him either. Nellie would help "groom" him like a good little Nurse.
Lap of Love came out (she had been out before and met Bob). Bob transitioned peacefully, in his chair on the porch with the sunlight bathing him in warmth, and me bathing him in love and gratitude. Nurse Nellie by his side, sneakily chowing down on the "special send off meal" he left on his plate.
I love you so much sweet Bob. Your life mattered. I shall be furever grateful for rhe privilege of being picked by you to receive your love ❤❤❤
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!
What a beautiful example of love in it's truest form...the way all life should be. Bob was blessed to have you, as you were blessed to have him. You gave him 5+ wonderful years and made sure his passing was gentle, surrounded by love, when the time came. I am so sorry for your loss, but I know you will cherish all the precious memories of this special boy's time with you. God bless.
Trini
Oh Sally, I'm so truly sorry he got his wings. I know he was so special to you and you fought so hard to give him a dignified last stage of life.
What a sweet thing to adopt him when he needed you most, and to give him that family he so deserved. His last days in those old earth clothes of his were filled with such tender loving care! You gave him the gift of knowing he was a treasured part of your pack, and his spirit will forever stay close to all of you in return. No animal could ask for a better life than the one you worked so hard to provide right up until the end. You are simply amazing.
On behalf of all of us, we send our deepest condolences and love to you, Myrtle, Frankie, Nellie and Angel Happy Hannah. May Bob's spirit shine brightly for eternity.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Oh Sally,
I am so sorry to hear about Bob. I am so glad we got to meet him when we were there for our vacation last year. You my dear sweet friend are a beautiful soul. You gave Bob a great life with you. You even tried to let him enjoy the comforts of the house and when he wasn't comfortable you made it so his life would be what he wanted it to be. He had a great big yard, a chair and a human to love and hug him.
I am sending my love to you. Run Free Bob until your mom sees you again. Happy Hannah will be there to meet you and show you the great places to hide and eat deer poop.
Sending my love
xoxoxo
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."
So sorry to hear this Sally! What a beautiful thing you did for a soul that nobody wanted. And that they bonded so quickly, gives me goosebumps. I'm glad his favorite beings in the whole world were with him today, as you bid him "until we meet again". You are a true angle on this earth - there is no doubt. Thanking for sharing this heart-warming story...
Paula and Warrior Angel Nitro
Nitro 11 1/2 yr old Doberman; right front amp June 2014. Had 6 doses carboplatin, followed by metronomic therapy. Rocked it on 3 legs for over 3 years! My Warrior beat cancer, but couldn't beat old age. He crossed the Bridge peacefully on July 25, 2017, with dignity and on his terms. Follow his blog entitled "Doberman's journey"
"Be good, mama loves you".....run free my beautiful Warrior
Awe Sally. Tears here. Even though I know Bob had the best life ever. Every time I would ask about him in one of our back and forth emails I expected you to say yes Bob is gone. But boy that boy knew he had it good there with you and nope he was going to stick around for a bit yet. So glad I got to meet both Bob and Nellie last year. Such sweet gentle souls. Now he's gone from your tender care to Angel Hannah's. He's still got the best of the best. Fly free new Angel....you received unconditional love and you gave it back fully. Your Angel wings are a perfect fit for that young new healthy body you have at the Bridge. Love and hugs my friend!
Oh, Sally, I'm so sorry! Bob certainly did win the doggo lottery when you brought him home - he could not have been more loved, human and other dogs too.
How is Nellie doing now all by herself? I've no doubt you're spoiling her as always. That porch must be a lonely place now.
I'm glad I got to meet Bob last year, definitely a special soul. and I'm betting Hannah is happy to see her buddy.
He's happy and running free now. It's the best gift we can give them - a peaceful, loving transition.
love and hugs my friend.
Right rear leg amp 7/12/16 due to OSA. Metastatic lesion on her right front leg, January 2017. Joined the Winter Warriors January 19, 2017. Run free my sweet girl.
Online
I'm sorry Bob has gone on ahead. No matter how long they are in our lives it is so hard to let go.
The first thing that popped into my mind when I read the story of Bob was what an long time ago Tripawds member once told me: these dogs find us because we are willing and able to take care of them. Just like all the pups in your pack Bob struck gold when you wouldn't leave him behind. Not only did he get a beautiful second life, but he got 7 or 8 bonus months because you were willing!
Sending peace and strength to you Sally.
Karen and the Spirit Pug Girls
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
Sally, I am so, so sorry for the loss of your sweet Bob. Sorry for the loss of his physical presence. I know what an aching gap he leaves for you and for Nellie, though I know too that his spirit will never be far from the blessed home he chose with you and Nellie and the happiness and joy of the life you shared together. What a wise soul he was to catch your eye as you were about to leave with Nellie. It makes me tear up just to think of that moment and of all the precious time that followed, all the love and joy and care and comfort and treats and love and treats and love and treats. You describe his transition so movingly, warmed by the sun, enclosed in love and surrounded by special souls.
Please give that Nellie a big kiss from me, and tell her to give you one from me too. Miss Pie will have been there to greet sweet Bob, shouting from behind Happy Hannah, and when she managed to get his attention (there's sure to have been a huge crowds waiting to greet him), I know she'll have led him to her special sun spot, where it's always just the right degree of comforting warmth and he can sunbathe to his heart's content, with ice cream delivered every ten minutes, and brag about how smart he was that day, and how he knew just exactly what he was doing, when he caught the eye of the woman with the sweetest smile...
Sending all love to you and Nellie, and Myrtle and Frankie too.
Meg, Clare and Angel Pie
Ruby, Staffy, born June 2022, became a Tripawd, November 2023, adopted January 2024.
Also Angel Tripawd Meg (aka The Megastar), who died in April 2023, aged 14, after seven glorious years on three, and Angel Staffies Elsie Pie and Bille. In the pawprints of giants...
Oh Sally, so sorry about your loss of Bob. What a beautiful story. His earthly self is gone but his spirit lives on in your home full of love
Sally, I am so very sorry about Bob. He definitely did hit the doggy lottery when he came home with you! You made his last years happy, loving and comfortable! He is there at the bridge bragging about you right now and Hannah is agreeing! 💙
TY GUY, Best Black Lab ever! Diagnosed and had amp in January, 2014. Kicked MRSA's butt. Earned his angel wings on April 16, 2014. Run Free my boy and don't forget a shoe. Ty is a proud member of the " April Angels". Ty sent us Daryl, a Tripawd rescue in Sept. of 2016. Daryl is 5 +or -. We are also Pawrents to Chandler, a Border Collie mix who is 15 and 1/2, Lucy, a Corgi who is 7, 2 minis, 2 horses, and a feisty cat named Zoe. Zoe had a non skeletal Osteosarcoma removed in July 2015. No Chemo, she was at least 16. She is going strong although she is now completely blind. She is now close to 20 and her hobbies are eating and sleeping in front of her personal heater.
Sally,
I'm so very sorry to hear that you lost sweet Bob. Though I never met him, it sounds as though he "had you at hello". Such a sweet story which makes it so much harder in the end. I hope you and Nellie are doing okay. You, like Bob, and Hannah, and I'm sure everyone/everybeing you surround yourself with are so very special. I hope my Sweet Ted was waiting for him at the Bridge and they are rolling around on their backs kicking their feet in the air in the sunshine.
With love,
Wanda
To EACH of you, I soooo appreciate your kind, loving and supporting words❤❤❤
I've been so remiss in replying because I wanted to highlight each of you and how your specific words touched my heart. And over and over I kept delaying because I wanted to "get it right". I wanted to find the "right words to show my appreciation. And I still haven't.
So, again, I do sincerely thank each of you for honoring Bob and letting him know that his life mattered to the people who matter most to me❤
I do want to highlight what Karen said, because it applies to each of us, and to all who will be on this journey.
krun15 said
The first thing that popped into my mind when I read the story of Bob was what an long time ago Tripawds member once told me: these dogs find us because we are willing and able to take care of them.
I do want to share a little something about Nellie when it came time to lay Bob to rest in a sunny spot the two of them liked to nap. Of course, Nellie was with "us" as he was released from his failing earth clothes. And it was another day before I could get the "muscle" help I needed for his "burial " So Nellie was well aware of everything.
She's by my side as I commit him back to the earth wrapped in his special blanket. Nellie nudges my hand out of the way and starts trying to pull up on the blanket. She wanted her Bob back. Thought my heart would break in two.💔
On on good note, Nellie and Myrtle were actually "playing". A first for Nellie and a first for my Blind RockStar😃 Nellie just stands there and let's Metty Myrtle do all the work😉 And Nellie gets extra wriggle wagging happy when ahe and Feankie pal around. So she's doing very well.
The video is hard to see. Filmed through a dirty window.
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!
Another beautiful gift from a beautiful Soul for my Beautiful Bob. I've taken about a thousand pictures of this and NOTHING does it justice! Jackie had the picture I posted on the first post and turned it into what looked like a handrawn pen and ink sketch. It's as though it's printed on glass.
It really, really is stunning and a favorite happy memory ❤❤ Just lovely Jackie. Thank you so very, very much. It makes me smile EVERYDAY 😊😊😊
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!
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