Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Today is 14 months since Shelby earned her wings and two years since our journey began with her broken leg, to mis-diagnoses, to her spleen to her amputation to her angel status.
I miss her more this month than last month (not to say I don't miss her every second of every day). But June is just always going to be a hard and sh!tty month for me no matter what I try and do to turn it around.
However, as I posted in our blog today, I did finally have that "turn it around" moment when I was on my run this a.m. and realized that her breaking her leg was a blessing in disguise that allowed me to fully be MORE present with her and see things that I might not have seen before and got us to a place with the ER vet that might have saved her life when her spleen almost ruptured...
Hindsight is 20/20 and life isn't about regrets. Shelby knows I did all for her - always and if money could have saved her, she would have lived forever.
So in true "Alison fashion" I have been "looking" for signs ... one sign came over the weekend when I posted a photo on FB w/some friends and a friend of a friend "liked" the photo ... her name is Shelby Lynn. I take that to mean that my SHELBY liked that I was out having fun w/the new dog (jasper).
And today ... after weeks and weeks of looking for reasonably priced plane tix home for Thanksgiving on our fav airline .. today... tickets that were affordable so Jasper and I can BOTH go home for Thanksgiving. Yes, I know it's months away but also, I want/need to be more out of LA than in anymore ... And Shelby knew how important family and being there so perhaps she had a paw in that too....
But I just miss my best girl. I know that grief never really ends and there are good days and bad days ....today is just a tired day. A day I would love to snuggle up w/those velvet ears and kiss and kiss and kiss...I never want to fully not feel pain so that I will always remember my sweet Shelby and how important our bond was ...
We all have good days and bad days and that is another reason I am forever thankful for this community that understands how grief can come in waves ... Bonnie posted something the other day - a photo about the love you have for your heart dog and how you can open your heart to love again and how it will be different. I can't find the photo but it resonated with me... very much since I do adore and love Jasper (a lot) but miss and still hold Shelby as the alpha in my life! Well, LOL, Shelby did think she was alpha so that makes sense! 
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
14 months, seems like a long time and yet is just a breath of a second for our angels at the Bridge. Of course she is sending you signs, she wants you to know she is at peace and well again. She will always be with you, always a part of your heart. She knew you had a lot of love so she sent little Jasper Lily to you. Hugs to you, 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.
Hmmm...interesting how that broken leg was...for lack of a better word...'beneficial' to your relationship with Shelby. Very empowering way to revisit that incident. Good job!
Shelby will ALWAYS be your Al p ha Dog, your Heart Dog, your sidekick and partner! And she will always give you signs to remind you of that! And cheap airlkne tickets could indeed be a sign! She likes to give you very unique and creative signs.
Thank you for sharingnyiur thoughts today...even if yoj FORGOT to ppst a Shelby pictures snd a Masper picture! Hint!
We love you!
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!
Alison,
Those endless, at times over-whelming feelings and memories of our most special angel pups can surely take over our mind and heart at any given time......And you are so right, we will always have good days and bad days, and our grief will always be there to remind us of the wonderful years spent with our beloved soulmate pups, even through all the ups and downs. But remember, as hard as it is, NO REGRETS.......We all did the absolute best we could with what we were facing, and regrets will only cloud the happy, joyous life we shared with them.
I am so glad you will be going home for Thanksgiving with little Jasper as well.....she must be a good travel pup! Speaking of your girl, I think you made a great decision to get a pup that will not remind you of Shelby in the way of looks......For me, even though Zuzu truly looks nothing like my Polly, and her behavior is absolute opposite (lol !!), every once in awhile, I will look at Zuzu with whatever she is doing, and for a second or two, I see Polly, and my heart jumps out of my chest. But I am still very glad we took her to give her the happy life she deserves.
Keep looking for those "signs", but just don't look to hard......remember, those great, deep to our souls signs happen when we least expect them. And I am racking my brain so hard to remember what post you are talking about, I have posted so much stuff on facebook regarding our pups, but not so much here, so I will continue to try to remember.
Be good to yourself, and keep all those years of amazing Shelby memories close in your heart, let go of the sad ones.....And then keep little Jasper L, tight in your arms, and growing more dear everyday in your heart....
Much Love always,
Bonnie, Angel Polly, Pearl and Zuzu
Aww sweet Shelby. She is so missed by all of us.
It's hard to believe that good things can happen out of such awful circumstances, but it's clear that you have come full circle with your ability to find them no matter how badly you feel on any given day. That is such a gift from your girl! You made it Alison, you are more aware of this goodness than ever before.
P.S. Thought of you when we were driving back to CO from Tennessee. All through the south, it's "Shelbyville" this and "Shelby Lane" that! There were so many from TN to Oklahoma that I couldn't snap photos fast enough. But every time I saw one, I smiled and though of Shelby and her beautiful hoppy smile.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Glad you couldn't remember the post either Bonnie...I was trying to conjure it up too!
Perhaw our little Californian stayed at the winery a little too long
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!
benny55 said
Glad you couldn't remember the post either Bonnie...I was trying to conjure it up too!Perhaw our little Californian stayed at the winery a little too long
Ha ha! Found it! It was on a post about our sweet Charley from last week:
thank you all for your kind words... it is true - when I started looking for a pup to help me deal with the silence in my home ... the dogs that were blondish, like Shelby, I couldn't deal. I met a few and tried to "make them" be like Shelby ... it didn't work, obviously. When I saw a little black and tan dog walking, I knew I wanted one w/those little blond eye brows and a black fur. Now I do try and hold Jasper like I did w/Shelby and make her cuddle me in the same way but I know 100% she is her own dog and next week will be our one year together. What a year it has been. She has definitely wiggled her way far, far, far into my heart which I know makes my Shelby smile! And I rather enjoy being the 'alpha'... 🙂
Rene - LOVE those "shelby" signs ... she always wants to make sure her spirit is known and felt. Attention hog, that one! 🙂
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
Having awful time losting....so Ive been scrrenshotting" (Elizabeth taught me) so I can still post a reply. So take that stupid Verizon...lr stupid tavlet...lr both!
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....
So what's the theory on butterflies? Jasper and I saw not one but TWO on our walk this a.m. - Jasper has never seen one before so she was scared when it landed on her nose. I didn't have my camera out fast enough to snap a photo but definitely two butterflies landed in and around us today.... I can't recall the last time I saw a monarch butterfly but want to believe it was my spirit Shelby visiting us ...
Jasper also slept under the bed last night in her airline carrier (wouldn't come out) so I presume Spirit Shelby was in the apt and spooking her... at least no low growls .... 🙂
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
Geez! So much for me learningnhow to screenshot! Sorry Alison, thst was a ppst meant for Ada. I can only ASSume I posted yout screenshot to hers! Oh my.....I can only imagine the perplexed look on newbies' faces when trying to figure out my "stuff"! I have a hard time too!
ANYWAY.....search ".meaning for butterflies".....you'll love some of the meanings.......transformation.....transcendence.....connecting with the realm of Spirit......oh yeah, you're gonna love it!!
And...its funny, but nust yesterday as I was cutting my field I was thinking that I had not seen the first Monarch Butterfly this Spring. When we first moved out here we would see a lot of them when the Lilac bushes bloomed...then less and less over the years.....and none this year.....breaks my heart to think of the "whys"! Same thing with Lightening Bugs (fireflies)...less and less.
Here's the screenshot I was trying to post.....
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!
Alison, yes, grief comes in waves. I have been through this so much already, I can only imagine what Nixon is saying about having no idea I've had so many dogs, cats, sheep, goats, cockatiels, and horses in my life for him to meet at the bridge as they ALL wait for me. I never told him about the poodle... I still cry over them like it was yesterday from time to time.
You're amazing that you realized that you were trying to make the blondish dogs like Shelby. It is hard to admit but I had a very hard lesson this year. My horse General passed at the age of 37. He was in congestive heart failure and it was time to say good bye. I could not be there with him and the last things he heard was my screaming as I was being dragged away from him. Not my proudest moment. That was in 1997 and I still miss him so. I still can't talk much about him because I cry so hard. I didn't realize that it was holding me back though. I have had Fox now for 15 years and that entire time, I kept trying to make her like General and never respected who she is as a horse. With everything I've gone through with Nixon the past year, I realized how I was not being fair to her. I have no idea if she changed after I started to treat her like Fox instead of "not General". Learning to do that this past year has been tough but I'm a better person for it and Fox is much happier and a lot more affectionate.
ohmynixon said
Alison, yes, grief comes in waves. I have been through this so much already, I can only imagine what Nixon is saying about having no idea I've had so many dogs, cats, sheep, goats, cockatiels, and horses in my life for him to meet at the bridge as they ALL wait for me. I never told him about the poodle... I still cry over them like it was yesterday from time to time.You're amazing that you realized that you were trying to make the blondish dogs like Shelby. It is hard to admit but I had a very hard lesson this year. My horse General passed at the age of 37. He was in congestive heart failure and it was time to say good bye. I could not be there with him and the last things he heard was my screaming as I was being dragged away from him. Not my proudest moment. That was in 1997 and I still miss him so. I still can't talk much about him because I cry so hard. I didn't realize that it was holding me back though. I have had Fox now for 15 years and that entire time, I kept trying to make her like General and never respected who she is as a horse. With everything I've gone through with Nixon the past year, I realized how I was not being fair to her. I have no idea if she changed after I started to treat her like Fox instead of "not General". Learning to do that this past year has been tough but I'm a better person for it and Fox is much happier and a lot more affectionate.
Thank you for your kind words. ... and turning my thinking around. I felt I was being selfish each time I left a pooch behind that was blond but now I realized I opened up their options for a new home and an even better home. My bond that I have / had with Shelby is unlike any other bond I have had in my adult life. I can't even put words around it... love at first sight? Maybe ... but I do love little JL and I know we are guided by our spirit.
Continuing to send you love and healing energy as Nixon watches over you and meets all those that went before him. Much love!
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 want to wish you and Jasper a Happy 1 year Anniversary! It has been a road with ups and downs but you both have blossomed in that time. Shelby knew what she was doing when she put you and Jasper on the same path.
Hold tight to us and Jasper. ..we'll get you through this crappie month of June.
Hugs
Sahana and her Angel Leland and Lucian too
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!
You are so courageous. As much as I LOVE dogs, I can't imagine going through this again. Which makes it hard to want another pet.
Katrina said
You are so courageous. As much as I LOVE dogs, I can't imagine going through this again. Which makes it hard to want another pet.
My heart was indeed irrevocably broken and like your blog said (I can't post either)... you don't know what to do with the days, the time... when you're no longer a caregiver, it's like you have no purpose. As a single mom - Shelby was my whole world. I would have taken a bullet for her. And when she passed .. I was paralyzed ... but I knew her strength would guide me. And I knew she would want me to love again. And if you read ALL of Jasper's blog, it was MONTHS before I loved her ... it was a very hard relationship... but now I love her ... very much. But not the same. Shelby was my heart dog ... my soul mate ... the love of my life. But she wanted me to love again and the silence in my home was horrible ...
So give it some time ... perhaps you will want to open your heart and home again... I bet Dymond will have her paw in it ... I promise you!
Much love always....
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
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