Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Ok, no one has asked me to write this but with the past few days with learning about Happy Hannah and a few others cancer spreading. Sally said something in her post about being afraid to share that news with us. Well I am going to say this we are here for the good & bad times. Please do not be afraid to share that news with us. Yes, it can be scary but more important YOU need us when dealing with this part of the journey. Having got that diagnosis last March (March 1st to be exact) with Sassy. I remember everyone helping me through it. Yes, it was shocking and almost to the point of wanting to give up. Without my friends here I couldn't have made it through as well as I did.
The point of this post is whether it is happy news, news of the 1st diagnosis of cancer, the 1st poopies after amputation, the Ampuversaries, we are here. We want to celebrate every milestone, and every piece of sad or happy news.
Don't be scared to share it with us. I remember not wanting to scare people and not posting the good things because I felt guilty when someone was going through the later part of their journey. The good things help us focus on seeing the good things happening at home. Don't be afraid to post the bad things either. We WANT to be there for you.
so off my soap box now but I wanted to make sure EVERYONE knew to share.
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."
Thank you for reminding us, Michelle. I know that at times I have been hesitant to post our good news at a time when someone else was struggling. But having been reminded by Jerry that we need the good along with the bad made me realize that all of our news is important. We laugh, we cry, we give each other such amazing support, no matter what the circumstances. I am so thankful that I found Tripawds and my only regret is that it didn't find it at the beginning of Murphy's journey.
Kathi and Murphy
Murphy is a five year old Lab/Chessie cross. He was hit by a car on 10/29/12 and became a Tripawd on 11/24/12. On 2/5/13, he had a total hip replacement on his remaining back leg. He has absolutely no idea that he has only three legs!
UPDATE: Murphy lived his life to the fullest, right up until an aggressive bone lesion took him across the Rainbow Bridge on April 9, 2015 and he gained his membership in the April Angels. Run free, my love. You deserve it!
Very well said, thank you so much!
Yep, it's something that probably every community member has struggled with. We even wrote this blog post back in 2008 about feeling guilty over good news, but it's just the same when it comes to sharing bad news too.
We are here for you through good times and bad, never hesitate to share the ride with us.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Thank you for posting this. This was exactly how I was feeling yesterday - celebrating milestones with my girl and feeling tremendous sadness for Miss Hannah. I felt this a lot when Shelby first got over the initial hump of struggles ... I didn't know where or what to post nor did I want to saturate the forums with photos/cheery stuff ... But I still wanted to have an active presence and definitely supporting those in need - both with laughs and hugs - is validating and cathartic for me. I love this forum for all that it can be.
XO
Alison and Shelby
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
I don't want anyone to feel the post is directed at anyone specifically. I just know a lot of people feel this way and I wanted everyone to know its ok to share with us. This is why I am still here after losing Sassy. Sassy made it my mission to help people here in good & bad times.
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!! You and Sassy are the gift that keeps on giving...keeps on reachingout and touching lives!!
You keep that soap box handy, because you do a STELLER job when you are onit!!!
Yeah, when I got the "kick in the gut" news, I didn't want to post for a variety of reasons...o e of the main ones was I didn't want to "scare" any newbies and everyone here is going through such struggles on this stupid joirney,...or they are dealing with grief..I jist didn't want to "add" to this...I didn't want to take away from any good news that might be celebrated that day! And, like everyone here, HAPOY HANNAH AND I LOVE TO CELEBRATE!!! To think "posting" could put downer or so eone's celebration wold bother me...to think my "post" could scare somene.........to bring "remembering" or "re-living" tears to someone like Michelle...or Jersey Girl..or Polly...or Lori...or Roxy...or Brendol..or Jake...or Chef.....or Pug Maggie...or Willow....OKAY!! OKAY! Stopping ow! You get the point and I could go on for a year and still be afraid I ledt someone out!
As I mentioned before, Carol, Willow's mom, just "happened" (proof yet again, nothing is "happenstance"), to PM me and askhow we were doing.....well, needless to say, the flood gates opened! I shared someof the same above reasons why I didn't want to go public, plus, I felt like I would be able to "handle" it on my own (LOL, LOL, LOL,,what a RIDICULOUS thought!!!). One thing she said as far as scaring people on the joirney...basically everyone already kows the deal, everyone alrready kows the scarey part just by being here. AND she said some very kind things and assured me the community would want to be there for me.
Michelle, thank you forposting this...this is sooooooo important! And, no matter what life throws our way...no matter what....there is aALWAYS a SOUL'S GROWTH lesson!! ALWAYS!!
THIS IS WHAT I'VE LEARNED.........."The Power of Love" is not just a song! . The power of love empowers you. The power of love continues to lift you and carry you, even when you have crumbled to the ground. The power of love feeds you oxygen when you can't even catch your next breath. To deprive yourself of The Power of Love keeps you separate from the oneness of life's perfection. To be in the presence of the love from this community is to be in touch with a Divine Grace that only those on this journey could experience. Our dogs and cats have opened doors to the one collective heartbeat of the Universe for us.
In times of need, it is our care for others that is our strength
We all want to feel needed and feel like we've added value to the lives of others. It jist gives us the "warm-fuzzies" in our soul! It does! One of my vows from day one here, was I wanted to "give back" to others, if at all possible, they way the Tripawd Universe has given to me. To know that Hapy Hannah and Ihave done that someway-somehow gives us THE most gloriously gratifying feeling EVER!! To know, in some small way, we have made a difference here takes us OVER THE MOON and onto a dimension of enlightenment I can't even begin to explain!!
And to get to a point (and the tripawd universe sngs a chorus of Hallelujah!!).
...You kow how good it feels to help someone..to make a positive difference, right? Well, for ANY of us to not reach out to each other...that deprives us of our desire to help others and the warm fuzzies we get when we do so....and that's not very nice is it?
Okay, I'll put my soap box away!! MICHELLE! You rock!!!
Wait!! HAPPY HANNAH wants me to show you someting!! She said she's gettng dressed to go out in the snow! So let's see what's going on.........
Sending love and light and a dose of enlightenment to all!
Sally and Happy Hannah
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!
PS.... I even learned to type a little better.....yeah....this is betterz!! I learned robts are a computer term and cats say saythe F-bomb and get away with it!!
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!
Michelle,
It's so great that you posted this. I also stay on the site to honor Willow and all the other Tripawds and their families. This has been an amazing source of knowledge and hope and comfort for me. I didn't have Willow long, only 14 1/2 months. As most of you know, I adopted her as a Tripawd...because of cancer. I found the site when I was thinking about adopting her, and things I read here have me the ability to decide that she would have a home with me, however long that was. The good things I read, and the bad, and the sad all convinced me that adopting Willow was the right thing to do.
The people and animal we "meet" here touch our lives. Tripawds is a community, a family, a village. We support one another through the tough times and love celebrate the good times. That's what "family" does.
Thank you, Michelle, for reminding everyone of this!
Hugs,
Carol
Can I just saymone more thing? And the crowd roars "NOOOOOOO!!!"....But more posts keep poppingmup before I could even respond the first time......We MUST have the celebrations, the siles, the laughter!! Every single dy!
I have tried to go back and post some responses tomthose WWONDERFULreplies you all made the other day....but everytime I do, I start LAUGHING MY ASS OFF (it's a computer term...potty mouth Jill taught me) at Jill's reply!!
The power of love is great.....But OMD...OMC....The Power of Laughter s equaly as great!!
Remind me to show you and picture of Hapy Hannah and her Beaver!!
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!
embeding picture for Sally 
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 even was sble to post the picture even though I screwed up the link....You ARE Divinity Miss Michelle and Sassy!
Okay, I'm gonna go fetch Happy Hannah.....her Beaver...and Bob the Hound!! Bob is a midget dog the Beaver carries around...http://s1351.ph.....3&o=0
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!
And here is Happy Hannah & her beaver
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."
Thank you, Michelle and Sally....I woke up this morning, and was having a really bad day today again. Everything posted here by both of you is such truth and inspiration, and even though I can no longer share my happy milestones and accomplishments of my precious Polly, I will continue to be happy for those that can celebrate, and heartbroken when bad news finally gets another one of us. Polly has given me such immense joy in my life, I know sharing pictures of our very happy times together during her lifetime will somehow heal my pain. So here is one of our silly pics from a couple of Christmases ago. She wore hats really well!!
And on a personal note.....one more "good" thing, if that's what you can call it, about the bad news part of my journey, although my terrible heartbreak and awful pain from losing her will seemingly last forever, I no longer have to wake up every single morning since this cancer thing reared it's ugly head, thinking, "is today the day she starts to fail and I will lose her...." She is running free, healthy, and happy again on 4 legs with so many other once-Tripawd new friends.
I know what you're trying to say, Bonnie. It's not that we didn't want to have "forever" with our babies, but knowing that cancer is going to take them does bring worry...about how it's going to happen. We know that inevitably the cancer will steal them from us. So, although our hearts break, and we miss them forever, there is some comfort in knowing that they are at peace. We no longer have to be afraid for them or for ourselves.
Hugs,
Carol
BONNIE!! You forgot the "cuteness alert! You can't put that much cuteness on the screen without warning! It gives us too much sugar in or system all at once!!
And Bonnie, we still celebrate what would have been future ampuversaries around here...defi itely birthdays forever!! So we expect to see a lot ore pictures, okay? Pup pictures...yeah, that would be great too!
Remember, we celebrate anything and everything.....even first poos when they reach doggy heaven!! I u derstand there's a HUGE pile by the Pearl Gate entrance!! There's a separate kitty litter box there for cat poop.....but the dogs devour that regularly! YUM! YUM!
Sending hugs!
Sally and Happy Hannah
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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