Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Bonnie,
What a great idea. I also am a lurker and when I miss a couple of days I worry about who may have crossed over and it makes my stomach lurch BUT I also take great joy in seeing all the help the members give to new tripawd owners. It's a very difficult journey and usually family, coworkers and even other dog or cat friends don't understand how you feel and they certainly can't give you advice but the Tripawds community can. And I would like to think many of the new members can make more intelligent decisions and are greatly comforted by the experience of others. It certainly helped me. My little Maggie didn't have too much time but going on this site really helped me with her cancer and I really embraced the "Be More Dog " which is especially important when the end is near and your own emotions are whacky.
On another note I rally behind Elizabeth on starting a new forum on crazy puppies. Here's my Hank at a rare quiet moment. But you can see he is planning something evil.
Penny, Blink, Hank and Angel Maggie
benny55 said
POLLY'S BANNER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
OMD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The gentleness is craaaaaaaazy how it jumps.off the page!!!!!!!!! So sweet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
As soon as I clicked on there it was.........then just came back.....and there it was!
Oh yeah......this girl Polly is still with us!!!! You bet your butt on that!!!!!!
POOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLLLLYYYYYYYYYYYY AND BOOOOOOOOONNNNNNNNNNNIE......YOU ARE SOOOOOOOOOO.LOVED!!!!!!!!!!!
mom2shelby said
OMG!!!! SO EXCITED to see Miss Pollyana's banner today!!! Gorgeous .... that was one girl that rocked the pink for reals!
LOVE, love, love!!!!
Alison with the Spirit of Shelby fur-ever in her heart (and little Jasper too)
Thank you Sally and Alison......I started sobbing when I saw her new banner, and completely speechless! I am just so very honored to have her precious blonde face sharing the same space with so many other brave, and beautiful Tripawd princes and princesses.
I think, ALL the Tripawd heroes that have been here since the very beginning, are all very special and will be always be remembered as well........all who came before us, and all that have and will come after.
Much love to both of you, and I agree Alison, Polly surely did rock that pink!!
Bonnie & Angel Polly
penny4weims said
Bonnie,
What a great idea. I also am a lurker and when I miss a couple of days I worry about who may have crossed over and it makes my stomach lurch BUT I also take great joy in seeing all the help the members give to new tripawd owners. It's a very difficult journey and usually family, coworkers and even other dog or cat friends don't understand how you feel and they certainly can't give you advice but the Tripawds community can. And I would like to think many of the new members can make more intelligent decisions and are greatly comforted by the experience of others. It certainly helped me. My little Maggie didn't have too much time but going on this site really helped me with her cancer and I really embraced the "Be More Dog " which is especially important when the end is near and your own emotions are whacky.
On another note I rally behind Elizabeth on starting a new forum on crazy puppies. Here's my Hank at a rare quiet moment. But you can see he is planning something evil.
Penny, Blink, Hank and Angel Maggie
Hi Penny,
I think you are way more than a lurker here......you are always around to be supportive and help out with your own experience when the need arises, and sure hope you continue to do so. You are a big part of this community, and always will be, so always remember that.
And I think the puppy idea is awesome!! We all surely love puppies around here, kind of a circle of life thing......much needed happiness when some days can be so sad here. Elizabeth and you, both have my vote for this idea!
Love,
Bonnie & Angel Polly
What a great idea. I pop in from time to time but not daily like when Roxy was around. I'll be sure to post updates here when I have news. 
micaroxy said
What a great idea. I pop in from time to time but not daily like when Roxy was around. I'll be sure to post updates here when I have news.
Hi Roxy's mom,
I know we all felt the same way you do once our beloved Tripawds leave for the Bridge, so now we have a gathering place here on our Alumni Forum.......Please do come around for any updates with new pups, or just to check in with us......once a member, we will all have a permanent place here, and our precious Tripawds will never be forgotten here.
Love,
Bonnie & Angel Polly
OH. YAAAAAAAAY!!! We love our Mica and ROXY and, od course, Zeus too!
BONNIE......NEVER, EVER, EVER, EVER DOUBT THAT YOU A ND POLLY HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE HERE!!!! You are continuing Polly's lagacy (and Maggie's too) in soooo o many ways! But this thread.....oh my........it gives an empowering meaning to all the grief you've had to endure...making something positive out of it.
Thank you for being such a shining light...such a gift....for all of us!
Love and light to you!
Sally and Alumni 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!
I absolutely agree with what Sally said! You've turned something very, very difficult into a beautiful place for many. Thank you Bonnie!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
benny55 said
OH. YAAAAAAAAY!!! We love our Mica and ROXY and, od course, Zeus too!
BONNIE......NEVER, EVER, EVER, EVER DOUBT THAT YOU A ND POLLY HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE HERE!!!! You are continuing Polly's lagacy (and Maggie's too) in soooo o many ways! But this thread.....oh my........it gives an empowering meaning to all the grief you've had to endure...making something positive out of it.
Thank you for being such a shining light...such a gift....for all of us!
Love and light to you!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle too!
jerry said
I absolutely agree with what Sally said! You've turned something very, very difficult into a beautiful place for many. Thank you Bonnie!
Thank you Sally and Jerry, more than you can imagine........I have only done a small part here not only for myself, but for so many others that have dealt with and suffered the same exact difficult journey. Just to know that we all still have a place here, and hopefully will continue to spread and bring many older members back would be the ultimate happiness. This has healed me in so many ways, and hoping it does the same for all who have come before me, and paved the way for this amazing support group.
Most of all, without Spirit Jerry, and you Rene, and Jim, there would be no support group of incredible people..... and Sally, you are one of those MOST incredible souls........all of you are the beacon of hope and light here, I am so happy just to be a small part of all this.
All my Love always,
Bonnie and all my Angel pups and Pearl
Bonnie,
Such a great idea I am in! Alison and Bonnie- Love the pictures, they truly capture the relationship.
I have continued to stay on to hopefully help new comers and make them feel welcome, as you all made me feel. You have all brought clarity, empathy and humor to a precarious time in my life.
Laurie
I agree that this was a splendid idea! I made so many friends here and I would miss them if they were no longer here. I notice when someone is gone for a while. I also understand also though that there are times it can be hard. It is nice just to hear how everyone is doing and be able to communicate to someone who knows what I am feeling. When I found that dog, guess who the first people were to pop into my head. Yep... You all. I love seeing the antics that MM and Jasper are cooking up. I am rooting for news pups that are on the horizon and look forward also to hear about them also. Pictures, oh pictures are so great as they put a picture behind the story. Penny, HANK is adorable! Lori and Ty ......Chandler and Lucy too!
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.
Thank you all for creating yet another magical place within Tripawds; helping us remember joy and find solace in its loss. It's hard for me to believe that today is one year since our Angel Princess Roxie crossed the bridge. She was so brave and funny and happy and SO IN-THE-MOMENT-BE-MORE-DOG. We only had her for the last 15 months of her 12 years, and the last 6 months we supported her battle with that stinking cancer. I still catch my breath when I look in the rearview mirror on driving-to-the-park days and see a furry face as beloved, but different from, her Samoyed smile. Our goofy quad-GSD, Smokey has had a new GSD sis named Abby since March, and they have turned into twin idiot lab-brains. And I hear Roxie's Roo Roo laughing from above because Abby's attached to his butt 24/7 and they go to sleep together exhausted every night.
It just makes perfect sense to me that Sassy and Snoop, Happy Hannah, and all the others whom we've loved and had to let go have had a paw in directing a new soul where it's most-needed and will be best-loved.
I used to believe in "The Dog"; the one and only most-special one in my life. His name was Logan, I lost him 3 years ago, and I mourn him still. But without Logan I wouldn't have have his little sis, Spirit M.E. Lou, or Smokey, or Angel Roxie, or Abby. And then there are all the cats past and present, including one who is fighting her own battle with illness with more fight and feisty than an 8-pound ball of fur should be able to muster. I've lived long enough to now believe that, with each new/old one who comes into my life and stays awhile, that each is "THE Dog", or "THE Cat" in their moment and for their purpose. I think that our hearts expand with the act of loving another, and that makes a special place for the next and the next. And that honors the memory of each who's passed before. So I'll pass a prayer up for Roxie and all our friends with thanks for the love they taught us.
Roo-Roo, you're always right here in my heart.
-Liz
I can't believe that it has been a year. It was so hard last year to remember all our babies that crossed in Awful August and the September too. I know Roxie had a big paw in bringing Abby to your life. Thinking of you today Liz. You are so right in your description of the "The Dog" or "The Cat" but I think our Tripawds will always hold a special special spot in all of our hearts. I know Sassy always will. Not that I don't think about my dogs that I had before her she just holds a very very special spot.
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."
Michelle said
You are so right in your description of the "The Dog" or "The Cat" but I think our Tripawds will always hold a special special spot in all of our hearts. I know Sassy always will. Not that I don't think about my dogs that I had before her she just holds a very very special spot.Hugs
Michelle & Angel Sassy
Soooooooooooooooo agree with you Michelle... Maggie will always hold a very very very special spot in my heart. Forever and ever and ever.....
Awful August...that it was, that it was 
Tracy & Spirit Maggie
Maggie was amputated for soft tissue sarcoma 10-20-09
Maggie lost her battle with kidney disease on 8-24-13
lLIZ......ROO ROOOOOOOOOOO. ROO ROOOOOOOOOO............I remember her video with her tail just a waggin as she pursed her smiling lips together for her ROO. ROOOOOOOOO!
HRH Roxie has jad her Angel Wings a year...impossible to believe! She was such an Angel here on earth too. And you were DEFINITELY her Angel!!!
Liz, you jave paid a beautiful tribute to your sweet Roxie today absolutely beautiful. Roxie is so very proud. And I know one thing for certain, you, and only you, and of course Smokey, were the ones Roxie chose to be with her at the "end" of her earthly journey. Shenjad THE best fifteen months...even with that piece of crap disease...than any dog co u ld ask for. She was loved and spoiled and had more fun than she had ever jad n in her entire life!
LIZ....that paragraph youwrote about THE DOG is lovely, just lovely. You wrote with such eloquence and from such an enlightened place in your soul. Thank you so much for shartin this profound insight with us. But, that's how Zen Masters roll!!!
You are love and light Liz! I'm so glad you paid tribute to Roxie today.....to Logan, Spirit ME, Lou, ....I know they are just beaming with pride. You've honored their legacy in a way that inspires us all to appreciate The Dog, or The Cat in a way guaranteed to spread love!
Roxie, be real clear on this, you and your mom have made a positive difference in the lives of all of us here! You are still touching our hearts znd helping us all to be better human beings. Maybe someday we will reach perfection like our dogs.
Extra bowls of ice cream as a toast to Roxie tonight!!!!
Love and light to you!
Sally and My Eternal Light Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle too!
PS.....You'll see the email I wrote BEFORE reading this post....serendipity...synchronicity...and all that stuff!!
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, Michelle and Sally; you always offer support and make others feel so much better. And Michelle, you and Tracy were absolutely right about our Tripawds having a most special place in our hearts. I just think we let ourselves be haunted by unnecessary guilt when we open our hearts and homes and selves to another, as if there isn't enough to go around. What a miracle to have the bonds we have and to celebrate each different one.
Logan was The Best Baddest Dog Anywhere; that was his title and he earned it and he wore it proudly. He also answered to Sh!%head, but that's another story. He was the typical Center-of-the-Universe GSD and he negotiated everything. I'd ask for a behavior, he'd tilt his head to see what reward was in my hand, and all bets were off if it wasn't good enough. But he'd eventually comply and I'd laugh and laugh at what an old soul he was and so much like me that when he passed I felt like I'd been cut in half. When we later got the call about Smokey being available I was relieved that his coloring, size, and attitude were completely different from Logan - so I didn't tend to compare them. Smokey is his own VERY goofy boy who lives to please and shares his treasured stuffies with us and the cats. He left behind the submissive peeing problem that caused his career change from guide dog school, and he has become Abby's guide through her new life with us. I love every swish of his wagwag-kisskiss tail, and, although Logan's probably Up There rolling his eyes, I don't think he begrudges me these next loves in my life - because he lives always in my heart. That, and his urn's the biggest on the shelf! But Roxie's has the most bling (thanks to Rene).
We just need to be gentle with ourselves.
-Liz and Angel Roxie (and all the rest of our Dearly Departeds)
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