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Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat

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Member Since:
16 October 2012
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1
8 May 2015 - 9:00 am
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I wanted to say before you read this.  Take the time to really love your babies.  Tomorrow should never be taken for granted.  Those of us who have lost our furbabies due to that dreaded cancer know this.  But it's something we should practice not just for our furbabies but for our families as well. 

There are days I just take special time with all of my furbabies and cuddle & talk with them.  Its easy to get frustrated with our jobs & lives and take it out on them by not giving them the attention

Hugs

Michelle & Angel Sassy

 

 

What Your Dog Really Thinks About  You

 

I am your dog, and I have a little something I'd like to whisper in your ear; I know that you humans lead busy lives. Some have to work, some have children to raise. It always seems like you are running here and there, often much too fast, often never noticing the truly grand things in life.

Look down at me now, while you sit there at your computer. See the way my dark brown eyes look at yours? They are slightly cloudy now. That comes with age. The grey hairs are beginning to ring my soft muzzle. You smile at me; I see love in your eyes. What do you see in mine? Do you see a spirit? A soul inside, who loves you as no other could in the world? A spirit that would forgive all trespasses of prior wrong doing for just a simple moment of your time?

That is all I ask; To slow down, if even for a few minutes to be with me. So many times you have been saddened by the words you read on that screen, of others of my kind, passing.Sometimes we die young and oh so quickly, sometimes so suddenly it wrenches your heart out of your throat. Sometimes, we age so slowly before your eyes that you may not even seem to know until the very end, when we look at you with grizzled muzzles and cataract clouded eyes. Still the love is always there, even when we must take that long sleep, to run free in a distant land.

I may not be here tomorrow; I may not be here next week. Someday you will shed the water from your eyes, that humans have when deep grief fills their souls, and you will be angry at yourself that you did not have just "One more day" with me.

Because I love you so, your sorrow touches my spirit and grieves me. We have NOW, together. So come, sit down here next to me on the floor, and look deep into my eyes. What do you see? If you look hard and deep enough we will talk, you and I, heart to heart. Come to me not as "alpha" or as "trainer" or even "Mom or Dad," come to me as a living soul and stroke my fur and let us look deep into one another’s eyes, and talk. I may tell you something about the fun of chasing a tennis ball, or I may tell you something profound about myself, or even life in general. You decided to have me in your life because you wanted a soul to share such things with. Someone very different from you, and here I am.

I am a dog, but I am alive. I feel emotion, I feel physical senses, and I can revel in the differences of our spirits and souls. I do not think of you as a "Dog on two feet" -- I know what you are. You are human, in all your quirkiness, and I love you still.

Now, come sit with me, on the floor. Enter my world, and let time slow down if only for 15 minutes. Look deep into my eyes, and whisper to my ears.

Speak with your heart, with your joy and I will know your true self. We may not have tomorrow, and life is oh so very short.

So please… come sit with me now and let us share the precious moments we have together.

Love,
Your Dog

sassymichelle-sm.jpg

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."

Virginia







Member Since:
22 February 2013
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8 May 2015 - 9:55 am
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MICHELLE! That was BEAUTIFUL!! Every single word, just beautiful!

These are words truly from the soul...no earth clothes I volved...just soul to soul.

Thank you SOOOOOOO much for taking the time to share this.

Yet another reason why we all love you Michelle! Sassy, thank you for sharing her with us.

Love and light!

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!

Idaho
Member Since:
12 March 2013
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8 May 2015 - 10:13 am
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What i would have given to see those cloudy eyes and a white muzzle. I feel we were cheated out of those. It makes me literally sick to look at the reacue sites and see the super seniors who have been pushed aside because they were getting "too old". I am so glad to be a part of this site,where people understand what a gift our fur kids are and will do anything for them.

Kathi and the Turbotail April Angel

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!

Los Angeles, CA
Member Since:
13 June 2013
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8 May 2015 - 10:38 am
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Yeah.. I saw this when you posted it on FB this am and I literally stopped what I was doing, got on the floor and played w/little JL. I long for one more day w/Shelby ... MORE than anything else ... heck, I would take one more HOUR. Today is her 13 month angelvesary and it isn't any easier ... not as many tears but sad ... I miss her. 

But I promise to make every second of Jasper's life the best - ever!

Oh and Kathi - me TOOO!!!!! I can't even ... it's so upsetting! 

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

Martinsburg, WV
Member Since:
3 June 2014
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5
8 May 2015 - 12:01 pm
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Such a beautiful posting!!!  It really brings home to stop and enjoy the small moments with your fur baby because you never know when you won't have any more moments to spend together.

Thank you for this.

Hugs

Sahana and her Angel Leland

Leland

November 17, 2009 - June 30, 2014

May you finally be healthy and running free at the Rainbow Bridge. Until we meet again my sweet boy!





Member Since:
16 October 2012
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8 May 2015 - 12:26 pm
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I agree with everything everybody is saying.  I see Bosch getting grey & his eyes a little cloudy and this really hit home today.  Taking those extra moments and going to enjoy them.   I just wish for that one more moment with Sassy but you all know that.

 

Hugs

Michelle & Angel Sassy

sassymichelle-sm.jpg

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."

Westminster, MD
Member Since:
31 August 2013
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7
8 May 2015 - 3:31 pm
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Michelle,
Beautiful post......and I agree so much with everything you said. And what Kathi said, absolutely hit the nail on the head....I am one that is hopeful that I can see another pup into her later senior years, and not have ugly cancer take them sooner again.....

Love to all,
Bonnie, Angel Polly, and new crew

Oakland, CA
Member Since:
20 December 2008
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8
8 May 2015 - 8:02 pm
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I love this post Michelle! Thank you so much for sharing it. It is so true.

I live with two going on 10 year old dogs. It has really hit home lately that they are not going to be with me forever. Even though they still act like two year olds in so many ways, Smokey limps badly when he overdoes it (like when he jumps off the deck!) and his eyes are getting that cloudy look and he is Mr. Grey Muzzle for sure. Sometimes I look at Codie Rae and she has the "old GSD" look. It totally freaks me out! And her  job as Chief Regulator of the World has become obviously tiring. Sometime she sleeps so hard I have to check she is still breathing. So I try to take some time each day (but don't always succeed) to love them up, smell their feet, caress their ears, and call them all sorts of silly endearments. They are, after all, the light of my lifesmiley

And if I had known my mom was going to die in the early morning of the day I was supposed to go back up to be with her I would never, ever have left her in the first placesad. No matter how tired I was.

It is so easy to take people, dogs, and life itself for granted. I came close to dying going on 2 years ago and I have already slipped back into taking things for granted again , and wishing my life was other than it is, instead of being grateful, every moment of every day, that I still get to wake up, hear the birds singing, feel my dogs' warm fur, smell my morning coffee, know love and give love. When it comes down to it, life is as simple as that.

Thanks for the reminder Michelle.

xoxo,

Martha

p.s. Kathi, I am so sorry you did not get to share Murphy's old age. I hope for the day when I can live in the country and have a sanctuary for old dogs. I can't think of anything I would rather do.

p.p.s. Alison, I love your promise to Jasper Lily. Because I know you are, and will continue to, follow through on it. She is SUCH a lucky girlsmiley

Woohoo! Tripawds Rule!

Regulator of the Oaktown Pack, Sheriff of the Oaktown Pawsse, Founding member and President of the Tripawd Girldogs With 2 Names ROCK Club, and ... Tripawd Girldog Extraordinaire!

Visit Codie Rae's Blog!





Member Since:
16 October 2012
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8 May 2015 - 8:11 pm
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You are welcome Martha.  I see Bosch's grey and when I read this it really hit.  He just turned 9 and the average for a Rottie is 8-10.  I am hoping for a lot more years.  But like you said about Codie Rae there are days I just feel him & lean down to make sure he is breathing. 

I know I am going to be spending more time with each one of them and hugging on them & loving them.

 

Hugs

Michelle & Angel Sassy

sassymichelle-sm.jpg

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."

Los Angeles, CA
Member Since:
13 June 2013
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10
9 May 2015 - 9:19 am
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Martha - thank you for sharing your "human" story... sometimes being a human is the hardest thing... I lost my father super young so I know that feeling .. just one more time... 

It is so hard NOT to live in the moment and while Jasper is a young, healthy pup, she is a black dog and I will see the grey on her muzzle (in many, many years, I hope yet we really don't know how old she is). I never saw grey in Shelby... as a blond she didn't really show it. 

 

Only in looking back on her photos our last year ... did I see what I guess was "old dog" look but she was still beautiful to me as I know ALL your pups are to you!

Hugs and love family ... I love us all! 

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

Orrtanna Pa.
Member Since:
25 January 2014
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11
10 May 2015 - 11:13 am
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Thank you for this beautiful post! I am going right now to pet and cuddle my pups. They sure are precious to me. Lori, TY & the gang

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. 

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