Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Finding it very hard to now be in the Alumni section, but Tahoe has many great friends here.
Trying to wrap my head around that a month has passed since Tahoe crossed the Bridge. The pain and memories are so strong and fresh like it all happened just yesterday. I think my family and friends think I am odd to be still be grieving, and with such pain. Unless you've walked in the shoes of a tripawd pawrent, you really cannot fathom the deep bond and connection between the caregiver and tripawd.
This has been a lousy and bittersweet week as I brought Tahoe home for the final time on Wednesday, yesterday (18th) would have been Tahoe's 18th month ampuversary and today…well, you know the rest.
I have tried to keep busy throughout the days, but 15 minutes does not pass without thought of Tahoe…ughhh. I know, I know…time will lessen the pain ...
"Tahoe" - Our Amazing Superman and Best Friend.
Dec. 01-03 to Aug. 19-14
Diagnosed with Periarticular Hystiocystic Sarcoma Feb 14-13; Amputation March 18-13, and diagnosed with STS April-14. Tahoe touched so many people while visiting us, leaving a massive void in our lives. Always Missed, Never Forgotten!!
{{{{{hugs}}}}}
Stirling you are more than welcome anywhere here in the community, feel free to hop in wherever your heart calls you to do so.
A month is a lot of time, and none at all in the big scheme of things. I know these dates are so hard and nobody can put a time limit on grieving, every single person handles it differently. If you are considered "Odd" by people you know then welcome to Oddball land here, cause we're all part of it! It's sad, but the majority of people just don't open their hearts to deep, spiritual connections with animals, and those who do feel the pain of loss far more deeply. You are in good company here, so never hesitate to share your thoughts over these anniversaries.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Stirling,
You are definitely not "odd" in the hurt you feel in Tahoe's passing. General society just doesn't understand the lengths to which we go for our beloved Tripawds. It takes special people to walk this journey with their pet be it dog or cat. My husband and I both agree if Leland hadn't come to us he probably would have been put down or dumped somewhere because of all the health conditions he dealt with because generally people are not going to put up with a pet having constant diarrhea in their home. Let's face it we live in a time where people are more focused on "me" than anything else.
The folks here in this community are special because we take the time to research and do what we can to improve the lives of our 3 and 4 legged companions without just discarding them because it's too hard. Even though Leland is no longer with me and my husband, I feel honored and blessed to have had him in my life...even though it wasn't for as long as I would have liked. Heck, I still breakdown every month on the dreaded 30th (we let Leland go on 6/30/14) and my husband still has days when he cries because he misses his boy so much. That's ok and nobody here will think any less of you or that you "should just get over it". I think I had seen in one of your other forum postings that you weren't sure whether you could continue on with this community after Tahoe's passing. I just want to say that I hope that you do. It's helped me a lot to cope with losing Leland by being able to reach out and help others. If I can lend support or advice to a parent that's just starting this journey it helps me to keep Leland in the forefront of my heart.
Anyway, I completely understand what you're going through but know that there's a lot of us here for you to lean on when you need to.
Sending you a warm HUG!
Sahana and her Angel Leland
November 17, 2009 - June 30, 2014
May you finally be healthy and running free at the Rainbow Bridge. Until we meet again my sweet boy!
(((((HUGS)))))) .... I do know how much it hurts ... it's been 5 months for us and it feels forever long and forever short. It's like I am stuck a time warp and the sadness appears when I least expect it!
Definitely not odd to be grieving ... I get that too, though. Even though I have Jasper Lily now, my heart forever remains w/my soul dog, Shelby. People don't get it. And that's OK. We here all seem to get it and the pain will ease up a bit but it never really goes away... when we have loved as much as we have, that does remain with us. And hopefully you will start to smile when you think about the fun and the good times you shared!
Sending you so much love and hugs!
Alison with the Spirit Shelby fur-ever in her heart (and little Jasper too)
Shelby Lynne; Jack Russell/Shiba Inu mix. Proud member of the April Angels of 2014.
October 15, 2000 to April 8, 2014
Our story: Broke rear leg in June 2013 - non-conclusive results for cancer so leg was plated and pinned. Enlarged spleen in September 2013 and had it removed and was diagnosed with Hemangiosarcoma and started chemotherapy. Became a Tripawd January 8th, 2014 and definitive Hemangiosarcoma diagnosis. Three major surgeries in 7 months and Shelby took them all like a champ only to lose her battle to cancer in her brain. We had 8 amazing extra months together and no regrets. #shelbystrong #loveofmylife
Nope, Not odd at all! We get it here! That is the beauty of this community, we get it. I still have days now and again, when the tears are there. It was 5 months on the 16th for us. I think that in this journey we walk with our pets with cancer, there are so many emotions that we keep tapped down. You know, trying not to upset the patient. Then there are the typical ups and downs, good days and bad days, what should we do? All that emotion has to make its way out before we can even think about healing. Don't let people rush you. People who have not walked this path just do not understand. It took me about a week before I could really even look at the box that contained Ty's body. Then , ever so slowly, I started to put pictures and mementos up with it. He now has a shelf of honor in my home office. You will get there, just in your own time. It is not the exact same process for everyone. Some, like me, find comfort in this forum, some cannot bear to be here right now. Some like pictures, some cannot look at them. Do whatever it is that brings some measure of comfort to you right now and don't let ANYBODY tell you it is odd. Hugs from, Lori and TY
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.
When you love hard.. you grieve hard..
nuff said.
Christine... with Franklin waggin' in her heart♥
Franklin, he was the Happiest Dog on Three Legs! Diagnosed 09/26/2012 with Osteosarcoma, amputated 12/4/2012. Had a wonderful 5 1/2 months painfree until he ran for the Bridge on 5/15/2013. Always in my heart, and always a guardian angel of my pack... You can follow his Tripawd Adventures, before and after, in my blog, Frank'n'Farter!
Stirling,
We all know how you feel. There is no time limit on grief especially for the best companion that anyone could wish for.
Jake has been gone since 7/24/14 and you were all there for me. I remember when Tahoe passed and it was heartbreaking. Please take solace in knowing that you are not alone. Some days are better than others. Try to remember the good times and happy memories, and how lucky you and Tahoe were to find each other. {{{{{{ hugs}}}}}}
Laurie
Stirling,
You know you are welcome anywhere in this community. Alumni or not. I post on others I post on my own in here sometimes in other places. I can't believe its been one month. Yes, time lessens the hurt but you know it's new and i still have days that I just want to curl up and cry. It's normal for all of us. None of us on this journey can tell each other how long it will hurt or not hurt. Just like our furbabies when they had their amputation each of us is individual we couldn't tell each other how long our babies would hurt or not.
There will be a time when you can think about him and not hurt. When you can remember special memories & smile instead of feeling that aweful ache & hurt. It was bitter sweet bringing Sassy home. I was glad to have her here but I wanted her body & spirit too not just her spirit. So I understand how you feel.
(((((((((Stirling)))))))))))))
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."
Christine said
When you love hard.. you grieve hard..
EXACTLY!!
Mom to Tripawd Angels Jake (2001-2014) and Rosco (2012-2015) and Tripawd Tanner. “Whatever happens tomorrow, we had today; and I'll always remember it”
Stirling,
We all do completely understand.....it has already just been 7 months for me on the 16th, and honestly, some days and/or nights, I still suddenly get very anxious and feel like an ice pick has been driven through my heart again.......it gets a little easier to breathe as time goes forward, but sometimes I still feel that awful, intense, gut-wrenching pain of loss over my Polly, and Polly was truly my soul mate and Lab-love like no other...... I have come to accept the pain, and as Christine says, loving hard ='s grieving hard......and I also still have moments like this thinking about my Lab girls, Maggie and Duchess that have passed on 3 years ago, and almost 15 years ago.....But it really warms my heart to know that no matter how much time goes by, I will never forget nor stop loving any of them, and they will be with me always.
I also believe that all of us that love a pet like this, are SOOOOO much more fortunate in our lives than those that have NO IDEA what it is to have this kind of unconditional love........to love so greatly, to hurt so deeply, it is almost magical......
Keeping you in my thoughts,
Bonnie & Angel Polly
Said so well by everyone......
To think that there are some who go on this journey without ever knowing about the love, support and understanding this stie has to offer saddens me. I CANNOT imagine what it would be like to go it alone...surrounding by caring people...but people who could NEVER understand the depths to which this path affects us.
Where else can you celebrate pooping, peeing, tail wags, etc. with such unabashed glory and be surrounded by "cheers from the crowd"! And where else could you find the understanding, love and compassion from others who really do grieve with us when our bellved ones transition.
As Polly said, we are so fortunate to be able to experience that depth of unconditional love...even if the price we pay is a seemingly never ending grief.
Eighteen month ampuversary and coming home.....yeah.......a bittersweet celebration, but a celebration Tahoe would want you to have!!!
And that "time thing"......yeah, that's real different on this journey. As you can see, that's yet another thing that only those of us on this journey can understand. Time doesn't really "heal"...it just allows us to adjust, but never separates us from the pain of loss. We get that here.
Now, I think I shall go buy some blueberry bagels to honor Tahoe's homecoming! And Miss Myrtle shall indulge with me. You know Tahoe and Happy Hannah are already on their thirtieth bowl of blueberry ice cream......in ONE hour!!!!!!!!
Oh! I LOVE his avatar picture! And knowing you took it while he was waiting for you to throw another stick makes it that much sweeter!!!
Much love to all!
Sally and Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle too!
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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