Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
Tripawds is your home to learn how to care for a three legged dog or cat, with answers about dog leg amputation, and cat amputation recovery from many years of member experiences.
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Agree with everything said here ... and for some comic relief may I present the "love of my life" in some of her favorite costumes:
Enjoy, Tripawd Family!!! We love you all! 🙂
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
Bonnie - what a beautiful girl Polly was - she looks quite regal in her hat 🙂
Sally - what can I say - clearly the lovely Miss Happy Hannah does not look too stressed in these pics - more like she is ready to get busy living life with her babies.
Michelle - thank you for saying what you did - I have always been in awe of people like you (and many others) in this community who I met after their furbabies had already crossed the rainbow bridge - the support from all of you even though the "worst" has already happened for your babies is much appreciated.
Hugs
Linda and Tucker
Hey Michelle are you trying to kick me out of a job? 
Hahaha! Thanks for posting, I LOVE seeing Hannah and her Beaver! Hahahaha! And SHELBY I WANT YOUR WARDROBE!! Too cute.
Wow. How do you even describe this kind of community to someone who doesn't know about it? I wish I was poetic enough to describe it (hey potty mouth Jill you wanna give it a try?
The love here is real, the concern and caring for one another is beyond anything we'd ever dreamed of. Nobody is a stranger here.
Thank you so much for making this corner of the world a better place.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
OKAY SHELBY!!! I know you don't drink alcohol, right?? I'm just wondering who was your Mom's Designated Driver the times she dressed youuplike this!!
You have to be the world's mst patient dog!!! Your expression in each one is just so laid back...so "here-we-go-again!! The deer outfit...your expression...just so bored with the whole thing!!
I think yo found the St. Patrick's Day ne just a bit much though!!
GREAT PHOTOS!! Grinning ear to ear over here!!
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!
Sally, I am so glad you let me know that I am still able to share some of Polly's life celebrations here, even though she is no longer by my side. I didn't think that would be a possibility here, but very happy I can, and I will.......it surely will help my healing process, and keep her memory alive in my heart.
Alison, your beautiful Shelby sure can rock the many holiday costumes she is wearing!! The beachy Christmas pic is my favorite!
{{Hugs}} to all......
Bonnie & Angel Polly
Thanks, Michelle. I needed to hear that. Shelby, you silly girl...thanks for the chuckle! You look maahhvalous!
Liberty (Libby) was diagnosed with OSA on 1-22-13. Right front amputation on 1-31-13. No IV Chemo. Metronomic Therapy started 2-19-13 along with supplements and some home cooking. Lungs clear until 1-06-14. She's still her happy, hoppy, bossy self. Living the dog life to the fullest and a proud Winter Warrior. :) RIP my Libby 4-21-03 to 3-19-14
benny55 said
You have to be the world's mst patient dog!!! Your expression in each one is just so laid back...so "here-we-go-again!! The deer outfit...your expression...just so bored with the whole thing!!
If I had a nickle for every time someone said that about Shelby ... I could retire in style! I do have the world's most patient dog and trust me - when I pull out her box of accessories, she DOES get excited ... I guess until I actually put them on her! As a small child, I would dress up our dogs like dolls... I guess it's just something I have continued to do as an adult!
And BTW - many people did stop on the beach during Christmas and take her photo... she's basking in the sunshine ... in her element.
Jerry - you are right - there are no words to describe this world unless you are in it. I can't even try to my friends who aren't going through this. I feel very close to you all and comforted by our words to each other. It is refreshing to see people being kind and loving - regardless of anything else. Animal people are truly special! Cheers!
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
Wow, I am late to this party and completely feeling left out. (teasing)
Michelle, very well said my dear. I feel privileged to straddle both being a tripawd angel mommy and a current tripawd mommy. Straddling from a cancer fighter perspective and an injury life long parent. (If you know what I mean). And there are days that I post my grief on Brendol's blog and then turn around and post a silly picture of Adelaide on hers. Life is so much about balance. Without pain, there is no appreciation for no pain. Without grief for our struggles there is no appreciation for our celebrations. And the more we love, the more it hurts. And the more it hurts, the more we love. And as a community, we are here for the whole spectrum. So share away my friends. Allow the rest of us to be happy for you and when needed to be there for you.
And on that note, I will leave you with a smile picture.
Adelaide is a young tripawd Husky, from an injury. Her amp was on 10/1/12. She has 4 sisters, Aissa (a senior border collie/chow), Maggie May (a puppy Great Pyrenees), Mathilde and Morrigan and 1 baby brother, Bagheera. We are all watched over by our angel Brendol, who was dx with OSA 1/30/13, amp on 2/6/13, and left us on 8/20/13.
You can read their stories at http://adelaide.tripawds.com and http://brendol.tripawds.com
This is exactly why I stay here. Never have I Met so many people who have banded together celebrating the good, cursing the bad, and giving the middle paw to the ugly. Not many ppl in my life get my love for my animals and I'm proud to be surrounded by so many who do.
Keep battling on to those still fighting the disease and honoring those we've lost..
Many X's and o's
Lori and the fam.
Karma said
I feel privileged to straddle both being a tripawd angel mommy and a current tripawd mommy. Straddling from a cancer fighter perspective and an injury life long parent. (If you know what I mean). And there are days that I post my grief on Brendol's blog and then turn around and post a silly picture of Adelaide on hers. Life is so much about balance. Without pain, there is no appreciation for no pain. Without grief for our struggles there is no appreciation for our celebrations. And the more we love, the more it hurts. And the more it hurts, the more we love. And as a community, we are here for the whole spectrum. So share away my friends. Allow the rest of us to be happy for you and when needed to be there for you.
Your words just hit right at home for me. I lost my angel Jake (Tripawd from cancer) and not very long after found Tanner (Tripawd from injury). I grieve everyday over Jake and sometimes I feel so guilty that I got another dog so soon, but then he snuggles up next to me and I watch him run and play, and he makes my heart smile. Helping another dog, being able to help others on here, its good for my soul. Thank you for posting this. I know I'm relatively new here (tho I lurked for many many months), you guys have restored my faith in humanity.
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”
One of the few regrets I have about Maggie's tri-pug journey is that I didn't find Tripawds until more than three years after her amp. Only a few months after finding this place Maggie started her slide away from me. I think most of my early posts about Mag were bad news.
Mag was a spectacular survivor- she lived almost 4 years after her amp with a prognosis of 6 to 9 months. With her mast cell cancer we were very lucky. I remember when I first joined I was stunned that so many people stayed here after their tripawds had crossed over, and I was amazed that so many people in the midst of their own grief had the strength to offer support to others. But once I was here awhile I understood.
I look at Tripawds as a fabric with interwoven threads. The good threads run one way and the bad threads weave across the good ones. Without both woven together the fabric would fall apart. It takes the good and bad intertwined to keep us together as a community. When there is bad news the good news supports us, when there is good news it helps us deal with the bad news and gives us strength to keep going.
Thanks for starting this Michelle. It's a great reminder that we succeed as a community because we share the good times and the bad times.
Karen and Spirit Maggie
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
Thanks, Michelle. An important message! Bonnie said a fabulous thing:
ACL tear in right hind leg 12/5/12 and scheduled ACL repair surgery 12/21/12. Pre-op xrays revealed osteosarcoma. Amputation 12/28/12. Chemo (carboplatin) started Jan 10, 2013 and ended on April 5, for a total of 5 doses. He handled carbo like a champ! No side effects. We started metronomic therapy at his third chemo and have been also doing some holistic treatments. He's a lively, playful 10 year old huskie-boarder collie and a very proud member of the Winter Warriors! Our love. Our funny little guy!
krun15 said
I look at Tripawds as a fabric with interwoven threads. The good threads run one way and the bad threads weave across the good ones. Without both woven together the fabric would fall apart. It takes the good and bad intertwined to keep us together as a community. When there is bad news the good news supports us, when there is good news it helps us deal with the bad news and gives us strength to keep going.
Thanks for starting this Michelle. It's a great reminder that we succeed as a community because we share the good times and the bad times.
Definitely.... well said. I remember when I first joined - I didn't want/couldn't read the 'coping with loss' stories. It was too painful and too real. And now I am able to read, offer what little support I can and be a member of this community. I have found through my journey dealing with an aging and ill dog that the greatest source of comfort comes from people telling us they are keeping us in their thoughts / prayers. It doesn't change our reality but it makes ME feel less alone in this big world. When Shelby first got sick, I posted most of my stuff on my FB page and got support from my friends. Now I feel rich with support from you all and my FB friends. I feel that no matter what the universe throws at us, I am equipped with a healthy support system. Now I say that while my dog sits beside me ... I do not know how it will look when she's not here (I know it won't be pretty) but I know that I will have lots of love and support. Thank you again, Michelle, for starting this ... it's been really cathartic for me. XO
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 didn't realize when I started this post that people would even reply to it. It was just me being me and saying what I felt that needed to be said. I know without all of YOU, even the new people here I wouldn't make it some days. I love all the happy pictures.
Rene, not trying to take your job it was just slow at work at that time and helping out 
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 so much for this post! I know (being so new to this site) that at times I'm scared to post good things when I see others struggling... Or hesitant to post others because I think maybe my question is super easy and I should be able to figure it out on my own... Or my worries are nothing compared to some of the stuff others have going on. But I appreciate this site and everyone who has reached out to us and made us feel like we are not alone. So thank you thank you thank you!
Cody and Family
Cody is our 7 year old Australian Heeler mix boy. Diagnosed on 2/20/14 and became a tripawd 2/21/14! We chose a homeopathic approach and he is being treated by Dr. Loops our of NC.
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