Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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A while back, I was thinking I should consolidate everything into one thread. And since Rocky and I are Tripawds alumni, putting it here made the most sense. I'm big on remembering dates and I wanted the "Started By" date to be special, so I waited until today ...
Today (June 29) would have been Rocky's 12th birthday. He was a rescue with no known birthdate, but this was the day we celebrated it since it was the first day he and I met. It's crazy to think that was nine years ago today.
My parents were fostering him while he was moved from a high-kill shelter to a no-kill shelter. He was a scruffy mess. I still remembering going over to my parents house to see him. My parents had gone out somewhere, so it was just me and the dogs. Rocky was locked in his kennel. I still remember my parents dogs (Ripple and Tigger) jumping around like "look what we got!'
I let him out of the kennel, not really sure how he'd react to me. But he was fine. One-by-one I took each dog out to potty. Ripple went first, then Tigger and finally Rocky. That would always be the order we went. I remember having to put Rocky's collar on him. He winced a bit due to the infection around his neck. But he was so happy when I took him outside. I could almost hear him thinking "Wait!? I'm included too!?!"
Tonight is going to be hard. A year ago, after learning about puppuccinos from all you wonderful Tripawd people, I got Rocky one for his birthday. As I snapped photos and took video of him slurping away, it hit me that we were likely celebrating his final birthday. I really wish I had been wrong about that.
But we'll still celebrate Rocky's birthday tonight. I'll watch the video and I'll cry. But maybe I'll have a frappuccino (and a puppuccino for Baxter).
Happy Birthday, Rocky!
David and Rocky (and Baxter now too!)
Rocky had his right front leg amputated on Valentine's Day 2017 after being diagnosed with osteosarcoma.
He joined the September Saints on September 3, 2017.
He is the toughest, bravest, sweetest and best friend I'll ever know.
I had to do a search for puppuccino. I'll make a point of getting my girls out this weekend for one to celebrate Rocky's birthday.
I enjoyed reading your reminiscences about your special boy. Sending you and Baxter a hug 
Fallon 8/28/06--9/6/18. My Heart.
Fallon's left front leg was amputated due to osteosarcoma on 10/11/17.
Nothing But Love in Her Heart - dawn3g.tripawds.com
Well, it's super hot here in Michigan, so maybe Max & Cooper should celebrate Rocky's birthday with an ice cream! I'll go grab a Frosty Paws out of the freezer right now for them! I know that Baxter has helped your heart the way Cooper has helped ours, so here's a good story for you:
We bought a new solar cover for our pool yesterday (we have an above-ground pool with a liner, so the dogs are not allowed in it, but they do walk on the deck around the pool). My husband went up on the deck tonight to check the water temperature and the boys went up with him like normal. A minute later, splash! went Cooper! 
So Glenn grabbed ahold of him & pulled him out, then down into the yard he went, running around the yard like a maniac. Max was looking at him like, 
why are you all wet? He rubbed himself in the grass, rolling around. Then I was pulling some weeds out from around my hibiscus plant, and as I threw the weeds, Cooper grabbed them and ran away like he had something special! 
Once we came inside he continued to roll around and rub his face all over his bed & the floor.
Donna
Donna, Glenn & Murphy
Murphy had his right front leg amputated due to histiocytic sarcoma at 7 years old. He survived 4 years, 2 months & 1 week, only to be taken by hemangiosarcoma at 11 1/2 years 6/12/17
Read about Murphy's Life on Three Legs
I haven't logged onto tripawds in a long time. It's too painful maybe? Fitting that this should be the first post I see! Chance and Rocky are no doubt celebrating together.
I think of you two and all our furry and human friends on here often. Sending hugs and puppucinos!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY ROCKY!!! I know you are celebrating at the Bridge with yummy ice cream and cake and huge buckets of puppuccinos!! And I happen to know that you got baskets full of DIRTY green tennis balls!!
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!
Patricia, so good to hear from you. Im sure the very special gang of SEPTEMBER`S SAINTS all joined ChanceyPants in a good mud bath to help wash off all the ice cream and cake slime!😂😂 Chance is remembered jere furever!
Lots of love to you ❤
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!
Patricia,
Good to see you around. It can definitely be hard coming here sometimes. I've gone stretches where I've disappeared. But I often wonder how you all and Toddy's mom and the rest of the September Saints are doing. Hope all is well.
Sally,
Those pictures are perfect. Thanks for bringing me a smile.
Donna,
Ditto with your story. I can see Cooper running around. Baxter sometimes, for no apparent reason, will start just racing around the house.
Dawn,
I think your girls will love puppuccinos. They're Rocky (and now Baxter) approved.
David and Rocky (and Baxter now too!)
Rocky had his right front leg amputated on Valentine's Day 2017 after being diagnosed with osteosarcoma.
He joined the September Saints on September 3, 2017.
He is the toughest, bravest, sweetest and best friend I'll ever know.
So we did end up celebrating Rocky's birthday last night with a Frappuccino for me and a Puppaccino for Baxter. I don't think Baxter objected to helping celebrate:
A while ago, I mentioned wanting to get a photo made of Rocky doing his trademarked howl (it's one of his banner photos). Last week, I finally ordered a print. Before sending it off, I realized there was a stain on the carpet that was visible in the photo. So I cropped it out. That made the photo a square, so I ordered an 8x8.
I went to a craft store last week to pick up a football display case that was on sale. While there, I decided to see if I could find an 8x8 frame for Rocky's photo. I found a simple cheap one and figured that would have to do. But, it turns out the same company that makes the football display case, also makes shadow boxes. And like the display case, the shadow boxes were on sale. So when I went over to get the case, I found a shadow box that says "WOOF" (with paw prints for the Os) at the top ... and it was for an 8x8 photo. Perfect.
David and Rocky (and Baxter now too!)
Rocky had his right front leg amputated on Valentine's Day 2017 after being diagnosed with osteosarcoma.
He joined the September Saints on September 3, 2017.
He is the toughest, bravest, sweetest and best friend I'll ever know.
Rocky's dad said
Donna,
Ditto with your story. I can see Cooper running around. Baxter sometimes, for no apparent reason will just start racing around the house.
HAHA!! I know the amswer to that!! 😎 Baxter is so over the moon happy that Rocky picked you for his furever home, he just can't contain all the joy in that "compact" body of his!😂😂😂
BTW, loved reading about Rocku's gotcha day😊
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!
Oh YAAAY! What great pictures! Yes, Baxter looks pretty darn focused on celebrating Rocky with his Pupacinno!!
AND.....looks like Rocky crafted a pretty special sign to let you kmow he's with you! Clearly he is pleased with the PERFECT photo display. Made my heart smile.💖
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!
It's been awhile since I've logged in. But I had to come back today for Rocky's Angelversary. What's the first banner I see when I hit the forums? Rocky's, of course. I'm just going to go ahead and assume I'll find a penny when I walk Baxter later today.
Really hard to believe it's been a year already. Everything - from the cancer diagnosis to his last day on Earth - still feels so fresh.
I went to check on his memorial at APLB, and they've added a candle for his anniversary. That's a nice touch.
I hope everyone is doing well. Baxter says "woof!"
David and Rocky (and Baxter now too!)
Rocky had his right front leg amputated on Valentine's Day 2017 after being diagnosed with osteosarcoma.
He joined the September Saints on September 3, 2017.
He is the toughest, bravest, sweetest and best friend I'll ever know.
Hi David, good to hear from you. It's still a kick in the gut for me too, thinking about the whole journey. What a beautiful thing to see Rocky's banner when you logged on. I almost never see Nitro's, and when I do, I don't close out the page I'm on for hours, just so I can look at him. But time marches on, whether we want it to or not. Take care, don't be a stranger.
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
I see Rocky and Nitro a lot. So nice to see you on David. "woof!" back at ya Baxter, high five 🐾🐾🐾
I cannot believe it has already been a year... just does not seem possible. I hope you and Baxter are doing well, he still hunting?
Gotta run but needed to post when I saw this, I guess I missed it before.
Sending lots of love and hugs,
Jackie and Huck
Hugs,
Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry 
I refreshed the page and got Nitro's banner. 
David and Rocky (and Baxter now too!)
Rocky had his right front leg amputated on Valentine's Day 2017 after being diagnosed with osteosarcoma.
He joined the September Saints on September 3, 2017.
He is the toughest, bravest, sweetest and best friend I'll ever know.
Well, I can assure you our Angels are having a HUGE pawty with Rocky at the centre of the table 😄😍
The menu is amazing 🍗🍖🌭🍔🥩🥓🧀
And as for the dessert menu 🎂🥧🍭🍧🍨🍩🍰
After they finish their huge feast the pawty will continue with a Dog Band and lots of Salsa 💃🏽💃🏽💃🏽💃🏽
Yup, Rocky is having a GREAT time, David 😉
Hugs and cuddles 😘🐮💫✨🌟🌹
Eurydice 77kg/170lb Great Dane limping end of April 2016, amputation (right front leg/osteosarcoma) 4 May 2016 6 courses of carboplatin followed by metronomic therapy, lung mets found 30 Nov 2016. 3 courses of doxorubicin, PET scan 26 Jan 2017 showed more mets so stopped chemo. Holistic route April 2017. Lung X-ray 5 May 2017 showed several tennis ball size mets, started cortisone and diuretics. Miss Cow earned her XXL silver wings 12 June 2017, 13 months and 1 week after amputation and 6 1/2 months after lung mets, she was the goofiest dawg ever and is now happily flying from cloud to cloud woof woofing away :-)
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