Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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I had to run to Kinko's today for a work project and while I was waiting for the guy to help me, I looked down on the counter and saw 3 pennies! And a nickle. Now true, probably someone's change but I really want (need) to believe those were pennies from Shelby!
And then I got back here to log on to this site and guess who's banner popped up?!? My baby girl! I haven't seen it in days!
Yesterday was 5 weeks ... still seems longer ... still seems shorter. I am acclimating to my new normal (not rushing home after work, not waking up before 5 to make sure she gets her walk before my workouts). Today I ran down the street in the opposite direction but saw a puddle - that was always there - and that I would pick her up to avoid since she hated to get her paws wet and would try and avoid it. I paused for a second while the reality of my new life sunk in and it did hit me kind of hard and then I kept going.
I miss her every single day. I got her memorial frame back this week - with the four photos of her, surrounding the paw print we had done after she passed. It's HUGE and I don't know where to hang it. But every bit of her is back in my home .. her remains, her clay paw print, her beds, toys, etc. Actually there is still one bed in my car. I can't bear to move it. I just don't know what to do with them all (she had 3) - no other dog will ever use them for many reasons but I can't fathom removing them.
And then there is the can of pure pumpkin in my fridge that has surely become a science experiment. Shelby and I would share pumpkin in the a.m. and I can't throw it out nor can I look at it nor can I even eat pumpkin again. Even eating brussell sprouts were hard. It's the weirdest, oddest things. Some days I cry and can't stop crying and other days, I feel nothing.
Grief is an interesting beast... I just continue to ride the wave - good days and bad... I miss her but I know, those pennies mean, that she's OK. She's got her wings. She's having a blast! She's still with me!
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
Yay, pennies!!! Every penny was once someone's change, that doesn't change their significance. It doesn't matter where you found them. I think she meant to put them right there in front of you so you couldn't miss them if you tried! Congrats beautiful Shelby girl!!!
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”
It gets better as time goes on.
Don't worry about getting rid of stuff just yet. When Maggie passed I immediately got rid of the stuff associated with her illnesses- special food, sub-Q fluids and pole, the rags I had around the house in case she threw up. I put her food bowl in a cabinet because it was hard to look at when I fed Tani.
What stayed was her blanket on my bed. She slept on that blanket almost every night of her life. It stayed on my bed for a year, now it lives in the nightstand. Next month will be 4 years since Maggie crossed the bridge, still in the closet hangs her leash and collar. The Mag Tag is hanging on the wall by my bed. Those things I still have make me smile with her memory, and inspire me to honor her memory with my actions.
I know you will get to that place where her memory makes you smile!
Karen
Here is the Mag Tag- but now it has more stuff attached to it.
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
pennies! It was totally a sign for miss Shelby. She is letting you know that she is with you always.
*hugs to 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.
Okay, just to add another validation. Julie, Super Dog Hunter's mom, jist emailed me yesterday she just now found a shiny penny in a pair of shorts she went to put on, and some of Hunter's fur too! Super Dog Hunter crossed over to theother side of life several months ago and she is jst now finding these "messages".
You always articulate your feelings and the specifics of what you are feeling and why, so very well. Thank you for sharing.
You don't have to throw anything away. As far as food...put it in the freezer! Her beds can stay right where they are! Trust me, we're all doing similar things and feeling similar emotions, .we just may not be posting it for whatever reasons.
You put those special pennies aside, okay? I bet Rene could make a fine piece of jewelry outof them!
Do you mind posting a picture of Shelby's memorial/celebration frame? I'd love to see it.
Sending you love Alison. SHELBY WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN!! IMPOSSIBLE!!!
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!
Am I the only one who can't see Maggie's Tag---and then some? I tap the little "apple"...a tan blank square comes up...I tap that....loading...loading....then "web page unavailabe" (which happens all the time here)
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!
sorry, Sally, I can see it and it's beautiful! Thank you for sharing with us, Karen!
Let me clarify - the food in the fridge is human pumpkin that we were sharing ... it needs to go in the trash! LOL And as far as Shelby's food, we donated that to a homeless lady w/3 dogs and my friend who gave it to her sent me a photo of her feeding the dogs (today on the day I found the pennies so I guess Shelby needed some extra mama thoughts and loves today).
Eventually ... I will go through her toys and remove the ones that weren't her favorites for a needy pet somewhere else. As far as her costumes, those are all hers and will always be hers and can stay under my bed. I still sleep with a bunch of her toys but they are losing the scent.
Here is the print I had done for her. Her paw print in the middle. The photos of her in her element (God did I love that smile and that face and those ears). Two at the beach which was our favorite place to be. She was SUCH a happy girl!!! You can't tell from the photo but the brown matte background is grainy (like sand) and the frames that are around the photos are an off-white but have tiny paw details. They did a great job for me. But like I said, it's HUGE and when/if another dog comes into this home, will be BIG paws to fill - BIG ones!!! But thank you all - she did make sure I saw those pennies since I am always looking down and they were on the counter, not floor. 🙂
And thank you - Sally - for saying that about my articulating my feelings. I know I share a lot here but I find that it helps me, helps connect me with Shelby and feel bonded with you all who I feel close too and in a safe place to grieve, process and ultimately heal!
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
Oh and I forgot - don't know if I ever posted this but I ordered this special from the Etsy store and I love it! I only take it off to sleep (and workout) but since I got it, I have worn it two straight weeks. Rene does AMAZING work!!! I could not be happier with this piece.
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
Alison, I Love the frame. I was able to blow it up on my tablet and see the detail. Pennies! Yay! I have kept mine in a little nylon bag. My angel dog pendant came in it. Don't worry about getting rid of stuff yet. As Sally says, we all have stuff we are holding on to. Ty's beds are still here. He and Chan switched around so much that he did not have one in particular. When he was sick, I went to a kids consignment store and bought a bunch of crib quilts. They were like $3 a piece so I could bleach, wash and change often. One of them still smells like him. It has been washed, but I think it still carries his scent. Probably my imagination.So it will remain in the dog closet, unused by anyone else. There are things that you may always want to keep. That is ok. Put a Baggie over the pumpkin and shove it to the back of the fridge. I just shut my eyes and pitched Ty's eggs last week. They had expired. I have not scrambled an egg since his last ones a day before he left. Keep looking, there are more pennies to be found! Shelby is letting you know she is still with you. 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.
Ok, I jist sent a nic repy about your perfect ...PERFECT memory frame.....only to have it go to "webpage unavailabe" again and disappear!
So......I'm gonna write ore to orrow.....if this disappears...at least it's short
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!
Hurrah for shines from Shelby Lynne.
And your memory frame is beautiful.
Many hugs
Linda and Tucker
awesome Alison. Shelby is watching out for you & sending you messages
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."
Oh Alison, the picture and necklace are stunning! I've got to get a necklace like that. Does it count if you find 2 pennies in one place and 1 penny in another? That happened to me and I want to believe they were from Libby.
I have a container of cream cheese I can't bear to get rid of, just like your pumpkin. The sound of taking off the lid would bring Libby right to my side.
Lori, I haven't been able to cook a roast since Libby passed. That was the last meal I fixed for her and I don't think I can handle making another one any time soon.
Hugs to all here,
Amy & Spirit Libby
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
3 paws = 3 pennies
you betcha... that was Shelby..
make you smile... doesn't it?
Christine... with Franklin in her heart♥
Franklin, he was the Happiest Dog on Three Legs! Diagnosed 09/26/2012 with Osteosarcoma, amputated 12/4/2012. Had a wonderful 5 1/2 months painfree until he ran for the Bridge on 5/15/2013. Always in my heart, and always a guardian angel of my pack... You can follow his Tripawd Adventures, before and after, in my blog, Frank'n'Farter!
That was definitely a sign from Miss Shelby! Everywhere you look she really is there, only sometimes she has to be a little more obvious in reminding you. See how those pennies put a smile on your face? I'll bet that changed the entire course of the rest of your day. It's those little things that really make such a huge difference in how we impact the universe.
I love that frame, thanks for sharing the photo (yep Sally, I can see all the pics, sorry). And as for the Angel dog charm, thanks again for sharing, it was an honor to create it, thanks for that. The charm can be found here for anyone else interested in one.
You're doing GREAT Alison. Keep smiling, keep looking for signs that she is never far. You two continue making a difference in the world by spreading happiness and kindness to others you encounter. Keep it up!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
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