Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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I need some cheering up and figured we should focus on the happy stuff about our fur-babies so I thought it would be fun to share how they came to be named what they were named! I am always curious why people name their pets the names that they do. I saw a dog on my run this a.m. and was just wondering what his/her name was .. beautiful golden (but I was in the zone and didn't want to stop)!
So Shelby Lynne ... Shelby was nameless when I adopted her from the shelter. She came in as a stray but to release her to me, they needed a name for her file. I had been working in PR for a photography firm and saw lots of kids named "Shelby" so I fell in love with the name. At that point in my life, I figured I would have kids so I was saving that name for a kid but when I met Shelby, it just fit!
Couple months later, an old boyfriend and I decided since Shelby was a southern dog, she needed a middle name (I do not personally have one). So we came up with Lynne! Little did we know that it was also the name of a famous country singer (and later came to find out an adult film star). Thankfully whenever anyone met my Shelby Lynne - they thought of the country singer.
Shelby pretty much went by just Shelby but when she was in trouble ... she got her full name called out! She knew I meant business then! Through the years, we shortened her name to SL or Shelbers or even a derivative of her middle name "Lynn-e-kins" ... but she was a Shelby through and through! Love my baby girl!
Next?!?
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
Both Amy and Boomer were at the sanctuary where I worked. I had known Amy as Amy for a year and a half and Boomer as Boomer for two and a half years when I adopted them, so changing their names would have been harder for me than it would have been for them. But seriously, who has a dog named Amy?!?!
Boomer thinks "Amy" means "come get FOOD!!" because he is almost always in the room with me while Amy likes to camp out in other rooms sometimes and she doesn't like it when we cook in the kitchen so she usually goes downstairs when I make their food. I almost always have to call her name at least once or twice before she come upstairs, so now Boomer comes anytime I call Amy.
They both have nicknames though - Boomer's are "Boom" or "Boomies" or "Boom Boom" or "B" or "B Man" and Amy's is usually "Amy Amy Amy Amy Aaammmy" (it doesn't really work in writing, you kind of sing it and drag it out at the end). I also like to sing the song Amie to her - but really loud and really bad, kind of like when you sing those "little bit louder and a little bit worse" camp songs.
My Mom's cats (who we live with) are Kili and Jambo. Kili is short for Kilimanjaro and Jambo is "Hello" in Swahili. My Mom went to Africa to hike Mt Kilimanjaro to celebrate her 50th year, so when she got the kittens several years later, she decided to name them after that trip. It was inspired by the fact that Kili had little white tips at the tops of her ears, like the snows of Kilimanjaro.
We also had a Shelby, she crossed the Bridge in 2012. She came from the Humane Society with that name and we just kept it but also added a middle name. She was Shelby Lu or Shelby Lu Lu Girl. In my experience, Shelby is a name reserved for super-special dogs! 
-Allison
Awww what a great topic!
Shelby Lynne..a porn star AND a country singer's name, now that's some kind of story! Too cute. I think her name fit her perfectly too.
Well, here's our story...when you think of Jerry G., who comes to mind?
See the resemblance? 
We had just moved to hippie haven, Humboldt County, CA in 1998. On adoption day, as we drove home from the county animal shelter, the name just fit. We also thought it would be a great name for some day if we ever got another dog, we could call him "Tom" or "Ben"!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
The first part of my name, Wyatt, was given to me by the rescue, German Shepherd Rescue of Northern CA.
The second and third part, Ray Dawg, was given to me by my foster people, The Oaktown Pack, who name all of their dogs with "Ray" or "Rae" as a middle name: Rosa Rae, Codie Rae, Travis Ray and Austin Ray. They added "Dawg" in honor of my predecessor, Jerry G. Dawg, and to make my people's hearts melt when they found out I was looking for a new pack! Bhahaha! It worked!
When my people found me, they thought the name Wyatt was perfect. I am the Sheriff after all!
Wyatt Ray Dawg . . . The Tripawds Leg-A-Cy Continues!
Read all about my adventures at my Tripawds Blog
Thanks Alison, this is a wonderful topic! My Polly's name story is pretty easy.....I have been a life long fan of Walt Disney and anything, he the man, produced. One of my all-time favorite movies from early on (1960) is Pollyanna with Hayley Mills. The day I met Polly, on the floor of the vet I worked for, I just had a feeling that Pollyanna would be the perfect name for this precious, beautiful little bundle of pure blonde joy. When I picked her up to take her home with me later that day, I called her Pollyanna, and she looked up at me, tail wagging, and it was meant to be.
I have to honestly say, and I am really not bragging, that Polly surely was a joy to EVERYONE she met and just spread her happiness to all, just like the little girl Pollyanna in the movie.........I was truly, truly blessed to have this incredibly sweet, soulful, beautiful pup in my life.
Oh, my heart aches now......gotta go cry for awhile.........
Love,
Bonnie & Angel Polly
Sassy got her name after about 3-4 days. I wasn't sure. I was talking to her and she barked so I told her not to be so Sassy. That is how that part of her name came to be. Then she looked like a little bear so she got Sugar Bear. Sassy at 8 weeks old
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."
Well can't get more boring than how Jill got her name! Jack came first....so when I got her, naturally her name was Jill! The shelter had named her "Sweet Pea" (blech) so that had to be changed immediately...........
Jill at 8 weeks old:
Jill is a 9-year-old tuxedo kitty. She was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma in June 2012 on her toe in her right hind leg. Her leg was amputated on 12/12/12 and she completed four rounds of chemo (2 of Carbo, 2 of Doxy) in April 2013. "Like" Jill's facebook page: https://www.fac.....tty?ref=hl Proud member of the WINTER WARRIORS!!!! Her blog can be read at http://jillsjou.....ipawds.com. xoxo
Murphy was Murphy before I ever even saw him. I knew that was what my next dog would be called, so I looked for the pup who fit the name. We also call him Muffin because our grandsons' cousin used to climb up on the hill and shout ,"I'm the king of the muffin!" When Murphy climbed up there and declared himself king, he automatically became the Muffin. We also call him the Mighty Muffin Man and Murph Man. Garry calls him "little guy" and Gus is "big guy" , even though Murphy now outweighs Gus by quite a bit.
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!
This is such a great idea! Jake's name at the shelter was "Elvis", they said because he had black hair and blue eyes. Well I am not at all an Elvis fan (of which I'm sure Jake was thankful). I had a hard time deciding on the perfect name. I think I spent all day calling him different names, then I said Jacob and he gave me a look like THAT ONE...and so it was. I'm pretty sure the look was more "just pick one for goodness sake" but I like to think he actually liked the name :). His name was officially Jacob, but Jake was his nickname. My BF nicknamed him Mr. Man.
Tanner was named "Bobo Tanner" by the shelter. Don't ask me why or what that means, they couldn't even explain it to me. He graduated from the canine good citizenship program and obedience school, and everyone had called him Tanner for 7 months. He responded really well to it and so we officially retired the "Bobo" and kept Tanner as his forever name. His nickname is Tanman.
Are we doing non-amputee cats? Might was well.... LOL
Our kitties, Baby and Bella were adopted together. The shelter called them Jennifer and Xena. Baby was only 1.5 lbs (hence "Baby") and Bella is a beautiful tortishell calico (hence "Bella"). Pearl was a stray turned house cat, named eloquently "the Black Pearl" after my daughters favorite movie series: Pirates of the Caribbean.
Here is our "crew": http://myblueey.....e-fur-fam/
Kathi OMG the Mighty Muffin Man, that is hysterical! I can just see him king of the hill....
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”
What an interesting and fun topic! When I got Chance from the shelter, it was a spur of the moment decision, which is completely out of character for me. I have to talk myself into buying a pair of shoes! I brought him home for a trial run but I knew he would never go back there. He was in the shelter for 7 months and they had named him Rick. To me, Rick is a guy I grew up with, not a dog's name. We came up with Chance because we said "we were giving him a second chance at life" or because I wasn't looking for another dog but "I ended up with him by chance." It was the best impulse decision I ever made!
Chance is a 10ish Shetland Sheepdog Mix who was rescued from the shelter in January of 2013 and diagnosed with Osteosarcoma in September of 2013. He had a front left amputation and 6 rounds of carboplatin. He had a great 11 months and was diagnosed with lung mets on 8/23/14. He was released to the bridge on 8/28/14.
These are ALL so great!!! Thank you all for sharing!!! This has definitely put a HUGE smile on my face today! 🙂
LOVE the stories !!! Love the personalities of our four/three legged friends ...
Thank you all for indulging the inquisitive, journalist in me ... like my Shelby was , always curious .. that's me!
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
My kids named Ty. He stared out as Tyran, not sure why, they just liked it. Somehow we just shortened it to Ty. His nickname was Ty. Guy. We have a dog named Chandler( kids also) so we had Chan Man and Ty Guy. They were a team. Where one was, so was the other. Or I called them in or spoke of them together as the Boys! Our Corgi is named Lucy. I named her. I love Lucillle Ball so if you are in my age category , you will get the story behind her full name Lucille McGillicutty. We just call her Lucy Goosy. I have been thinking, almost all of the animals we have owned have had people names . I also have a cat named Zoe. You guessed it, the kids. When we got Lucy, I had always said if I got another female dog, I liked the name Chloe. She did NOT look like a Chloe. Ty fit his name perfectly. He looked like a Ty guy. He also was nameless when we got him. Chandler was named Tank. If ever a name did not suit a dog, it was this one. 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.
Chloe!! We used to have a sheep named Chloe. She was my son's first 4H lamb and he kept her as part of his breeding project. You could put her halter on her, point her at the van and tell her to load up. She would jump in and go behind the back seat and ride like a dog with her nose out the window.
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!
Oh what fun stories! Yes yes, all critter name stories are welcomed no matter how many legs they have!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Alison. I am sorry you were having a bad day, but what a wonderful idea! And great job for coming up with an action plan to help you turn it around. 
You know I have to get in on this one. I will try to keep these short.
Brendol (aka Miss Brendol, Poochy Butt, and Sweetpea (sorry Erica)): When I met Brendol, her name was Brindle, because the guy that had her thought that was her coloring. He wanted a mean aggressive dog, and the place adopting her out had her down and pitt and rottie. I sort of offered to let her stay at my house and yard and just never gave her back. (There's a whole lot more to this one, but trust me, this was the best thing for her). I changed the spelling and enunciation so we didn't look like big dorks like he was.
Aissa (aka Aissa May and Wiggle Butt): Her name at the Humane Society was Joie (like joy in French). Try yelling that running down the street. She had been adopted out to a guy that named her Asia, but he couldn't keep her due to his Sharpei's allergies. I didn't like either of those, so I played around with names for a few days and somehow Aissa came out of my mouth and she smiled and wagged... voi la! And Aissa isn't any known name, so it doesn't mean anything. Oh well.
Morrigan
Mathilde and Morrigan are litter mates. A friend of mine's girlfriend's cat had kittens and they were trying to find them homes. I had no interest in getting another cat after my first cat Allegra had passed away after 18 years. But he came into work with the remaining kittens, there were three left. Morrigan was so pretty, even as a 5 week old kitten, but Mathilde was miss personality, so I said I'd take them both if this other lady would take the last little boy (I didn't want him to feel left out). I scoured name meanings and I like mythological and folklore names, so Mathilde is from the Germanic name Mahthildis meaning "strength in battle" and Morrigan is from Irish mythology derived from Irish Mór Ríoghain meaning "great queen". In Irish myth she was a goddess of war and death who often took the form of a crow. It seems to fit them and be related. Plus my heritage is strongly German and Scotch Irish.
Adelaide (aka Crazy Butt and Addy) was originally listed on the tripawds rescue forum, a tripawd near me in Georgia. Erica sent me her info. Her name was 'Murphy' with her foster parents, but I just couldn't see that. I had kept 'Adelaide' in my head for years as a name that I wanted to name a baby girl, should I ever have one. Having that time of my life pass, and the name never being used, I toyed around with the idea of letting Addy have it. Erica supported me and I went with it.
And lastly
Bagheera (aka Little Man) was found this January when it was like 10 degrees out (in Georgia). Addy found him behind the yard on the other side of the fence. So he came without a name. I toyed with names for probably 3 days. I wanted another "M" name to go along with the girls but nothing was ringing with me. And then I saw 'Bagheera' looking for black cat name ideas... he's the cooool black panther from the Jungle Book. And look, he is gonna look like him when he grows up.
That was the short version. Hope you got a smile.
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
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