Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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My hubby doesn't have a clue yet, but I just completed an online application for a beautiful yellow Lab rescue. I have never gotten a rescue before, all my Lab girls have come from breeders. But when I found this 5 year old girl, on a day I was having a not-so-good day missing my Polly, one look at her precious face and I knew I needed to try to rescue her. I need to make it clear, that I had no intention to ever get another yellow Lab, but something about this girl just jumped out and grabbed my heart, and will NOT let go. I also truly believe that Polly sent this special girl to me, I just feel it. Before I read about her, she had captured my heart.......and once reading about her, I am more determined to bring her into my life. She is a 5 year old yellow Lab, although she is of the reddish variety........and she is also blind due to retinal degeneration. Now, I know it may take a bit more perseverance and dedication to rescue a blind pup, but after the journey I just had with my Polly AND my Maggie, I am fairly certain I can give this sweet girl a happy and safe home. In my years of working at my animal hospital, I have cared for many blind dogs, and a few blind cats, and I can honestly say, it absolutely does not bother them one bit. They just need to be kept safe from any dangerous situation, and they adapt very quickly. I am sure there is helpful reading out there for this situation, so I will definitely take advantage of that as well. I also know that my black Lab Pearl will love her, and she will love Pearl, I just know.....
I am not certain I will be approved, or get this girl before someone else gets her first, but I will not be able to sleep at night if I don't at least try..... Hubby is just gonna have to take a chill pill and go with it once he finds out, but I will hold that off as long as possible.......if it is meant to be, it will, and if not.................I will try to live with that. Oh, and BTW, this sweet girl's name is Faith........
Keeping positive thoughts going forward......
Love to all......
Bonnie & Angel Polly
Bonnie,
I'm typing through tears of joy. I'm so happy that you felt a connection with sweet Faith. I do believe Polly has sent her to you...there couldn't possibly be a better, more loving home for her. And your husband better not put up a fuss or he's going to have all of us to deal with!
xoxo
Carol
Soooo excited for you, Bonnie...fingers and paws crossed that Faith will be yours! Keep us posted!
Hugs,
Deb and Lexie
Deb and Angel Lexie* Diagnosed at age 13. Tried radiation first; wish we had amputated upon diagnosis (even with lung mets). Joined Club Tripawd April 2014 & Lexie loved life on 3 legs! Advice: Start physical therapy as soon as your vet clears it, especially hydrotherapy if available :-) See Lexie pics here.
Oh I also think it was a sign and from your Pollyanna too!!! There is no doubt in my mind that you would be an excellent caregiver for any dog let alone one with blindness!!!
I've only ever had rescues, my whole life, and they are the best. they are truly so grateful for a second (or third or more) chance that they are devoted, loyal and loving! Fingers crossed for you!
Lots of love,
Alison & her Shelby fur-ever in her heart
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
All goosey bumpy lumpy -in my- throat going on over here!,
The wnole community is pulling for you and sending out all the positive energy we can muster! And I can promise you this, Lab Maggie and Lab Polly and Fluffy Happy Hannah, along with a few other magnificent Angels at the bridge, are working all their collective magic to make sure THE special dog jas his doggy suitcase packed and ready to go!
Ohhhhh Bonnie, I really, really hope this works out for you! Is there a contact phone number? Sometimes these sites aren't "up to date" so you could call, to just "confirm" that this dog is still available...then maybe you could get your foot further in the door by asking if you could go ahead and set up a preliminary visit, knowing everything would hi ge on whether or not they "accepted" your applicatiojn.
.
And yeah...that "husband plan" you have in place......PERFECT!! Spot on!
Oh, and I .loved reading about the colors on Polly's collar and how you found them in that ribbon. Nice, very nice.
Faith could not have a better home than with you and your family. P.EASE DEAR goD, let this work!!
Love!
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!
Fingers and toes crossed here, too. Faith will be very lucky to get you.
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!
Fingers and paws crossed that Faith finds her way to your home - her fur-ever home!
Hugs
Linda and Tucker
You just made Polly's ribbon and to find this sweet girl right afterwards who's name is Faith...holy moly, I lost it when I read that! I'm pretty sure Polly had that planned out. Oh I hope they call you and I hope it all works out. Our fingers and paws are crossed!!!
HUGS
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”
Thank you everyone for your support....... I woke up this morning full of apprehension about this and ready to puke (only because of keeping this from hubby).........I am not sure how this will go, but will still do everything I can to bring sweet Faith home with me.
Carol, your words made me cry and laugh! Thank you so much.
Sally, this rescue is a very large Lab rescue in the VA, MD, PA, DE and even eastern W VA and northern NC.......it is the Lab Rescue of L.R.C.P, and their website and facebook page is updated everyday. But yes, you are right, maybe I could still call them to ask about Faith. They have "set rules" in place for rescue, but a call for interest in Faith couldn't hurt. Oh, and thank you for reading about Polly's colors and your heartwarming support for me, always.
Elizabeth, thank you as well for your kind words of support......in actuality, I found this sweet face of Faith on the Lab Rescue I mentioned to Sally above, on the exact date of Polly's 4th month since getting her wings. I woke up that morning, June 16, very depressed and my heart hurting. I got my computer and went into facebook to browse, and Faith's picture was the 3rd thing I saw........I felt so many different things at the same time, but the first thing I did was cry, and then something in my heart was lifted, then I made the decision to pursue her. It all happened in what seems like an instant. All the back and forth with hubby has gone on since then, which brings me to my deviousness ..........Lord forgive me, but I know deeply that Polly had her paws in this...........
Thank you all again, and if this works out, I will post, but I most likely will not post anything else till a definite decision is made by the rescue...........deep sigh............
Love,
Bonnie & Angel Polly
Omay, we'll anxiously wait tonhear from uou!
Talk about signs from Pollly...OMD!!!!!!!
As far as hubby.....what's the pnrase.....so ething like....it's better to ask for forgiveness later than permission first.
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!
Bonnie - I know that gut feeling of apprehension. It took me THREE tries to fill out the application for Jasper (you had to do that before you could even contact them). THREE! And then when they emailed me back, I was up and down. And driving to get her, I almost turned around. It is a roller coaster and two weeks tomorrow marks when Jasper arrived to me. And not a full 4 months after Shelby passed so I felt awful about it too. I wanted to puke also!
But trust in "Faith" and know that everything happens for a reason. I had been looking on Petfinder - just to look - and that day, Jasper's was the first photo and I was instantly drawn to her.
Lots of signs.... keep us posted! XOXO
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 you are so funny, we won't tell your hubby that you told us before him! Congratulations, that's a big step and you are definitely MORE than capable of giving this special doll a great home. You know the breed, you know what it's like to have a "special needs" animal and you have a heart of gold. If you'd like us to write a reference letter to the rescue, just holler OK?
Keep us posted!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Ok, so I am getting ready to sit down and read new posts here, and I decided to get peanut butter first......I reach and get the peanut butter which is just a bit higher than my head in my cabinet, and an old fortune cookie falls from somewhere that I forgot about......it reads "You will be successful in your endeavor"".......I am not kidding, and the other funny thing is, the last time I got Chinese food was Polly's 2 month anniversary for getting her wings. I was depressed that day as well, and Chinese food always brightens my mood. I would post this fortune so everyone can read it, but my husband does all my pic posting here. ( I need to keep him around for some things )
I am a bit speechless at the moment but I am a true believer in signs.........
Alison, I always said, you and I are quite a bit alike, lots of similar things and feeling in our lives!
And Rene, thank you so much for your support and offering to write a reference letter, so very kind of you, and if I do need another one, I will without a doubt get in touch with you.
I think I've had all the obvious signs I need, but I will be alert for more along my way.......
Love to all,
Bonnie and Angel Polly
Oh, I hope you get her. I will wait to see how that approach with the hubby works. Maybe,I will eventually try that also. I saw her, she is so cute! I had to check out the website after reading your post. Unfortunately, no pup really reached out and grabbed me:( All in good time. That makes me think that Faith is meant to be yours. I will, however, keep checking the website. I feel so badly as there are quite a few 8,9& 10 year ols on there, but I cannot survive another loss so quickly. My Border Collie mix is turning 11 in July and I am having a hard time accepting his elderly ness. Keep us posted on how you are making out. Love 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.
I hope you get her. I think that fortune was a sign from Polly. I don't know what you think but quite the coincidence. Keep us posted. I think you will get her. You are awesome
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."
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