Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
Tripawds is your home to learn how to care for a three legged dog or cat, with answers about dog leg amputation, and cat amputation recovery from many years of member experiences.
Join The Tripawds Community
Learn how to help three legged dogs and cats in the forums below. Browse and search as a guest or register for free and get full member benefits:
Instant post approval.
Private messages to members.
Subscribe to favorite topics.
Live Chat and much more!
Register
Log In
Members
Add Topic
Offline
Jackie and Sally,
No worries! I will end up sharing at some point, I'm sure. Both were so sudden and although it's been 12 years now, I think about what happened all the time. I love all 6 of the Boxers I've been lucky to share my life with, but this particular one was unbelievably special and frankly, selfless.
When I was at the foster home just visiting with the cats, the poor lady probably thought I was a lunatic because I told her if I did end up adopting at some point, the new cat had to be the opposite of Jerry in physical appearance, gender, personality, etc...and really they could not be any different. I had Jerry Cat for years before we brought Sox home as a pup (he was supposed to be my superstar, future therapy dog who actually ended up getting kicked out of puppy kindergarten. We seriously were asked not to come back and they sent us a courtesy "certificate" saying he graduated). Anyway, Sox is almost 7 now, and I have exactly 1 photo from the exactly 1 time that Jerry went anywhere near him, and that was right after our Pug passed away this past summer. After Jerry died a few months after that, Sox stopped eating, and would just lay around upstairs in a spare bedroom. I was looking to adopt a dog this fall, but was having trouble finding one (rescues tend to not adopt to people with young kids and my daughter is 4), and instead we found our way to Stella. Sox
L O V E S her and wants to play so bad. She is *just* starting to trust him and even hides behind doors and jumps out at him. Sox is very territorial and a tough guy on the outside but holy crap, he is a total wimp and is one of those dogs that won't walk up the stairs or past a cat if it is there first.
I do hope to snap a pic of them actually cuddling some day soon. That would make my heart swoon for sure!
Thanks - have a nice evening!
Hattie
Hugs,
Hattie and Jerry Cat (right front leg and scapula amputation due to chondrosarcoma at age 14, lived 2 1/2 years post amputation, succumbed suddenly to suspected lymphoma at age 16)
10/2001 - 10/9/2017 R.I.P ~ Love you always
Thanks Hattie. Such a treat ggetting to know more about your handsome Sox, sweet "different in every way" Stella, and more about our Inspirational Hero Jerry! 🙂
I'm so glad Sox and Stella are becoming friends. Stella is helping to heal a lot of hearts! Good job Jerry
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!
I’m sorry to hear of Jerry’s passing I saw the Tripawd Tuesday tribute. I am happy to hear you got 2 1/2 years although there is never enough time with our animals. You took the chance at 14 and gave Jerry a extended quality of life which sounds like that is exactly what it was! Lots of hoppy times! No regrets!
Looks like Jerry’s work is not done he brought you a sweet tuxedo kitty she is adorable !
Purrkins has littermate brother who is a Tuxedo named Saxton. I do believe there is more to a tuxedo then the pattern they are very intelligent and talkative, love bugs on their terms! I don’t think there is filling another’s paws, no replacing but allowing yourself to love again is a gift 🎁 She will fill her own set of paws in your heart!
Congrats on the new family member & good job Jerry for bringing Stella home!
Photobucket GRRR I
cant even click on that one, glad you have a blog that fixes that issue.
Hugs,
Holly & Purrkins❤️
Thanks again for the sweet comments, ladies. Here is a photo of Sox from today. It snowed here yesterday and that's a bit rare. Sox is LOVING it and doesn't want to come in, but mama don't do cold, well. Just thought maybe it'd be nice to put a face with his name. Thanks for looking 🙂
Hattie
Hugs,
Hattie and Jerry Cat (right front leg and scapula amputation due to chondrosarcoma at age 14, lived 2 1/2 years post amputation, succumbed suddenly to suspected lymphoma at age 16)
10/2001 - 10/9/2017 R.I.P ~ Love you always
Ok, I don't know where you are that's so warm but I'm jealous lol. We have woken up to zero and single digits all week here in Ky. So much for the South lol. Sox is gorgeous! He is a purebred? I'm so glad he and Stella are hitting it off 
When I was living up north in R.I. there was a doc just over the line in Mass that was a breeder of Boxers. He had at least one that made it to Westminster. Sox's stance reminded me of that 😊
Hugs,
Jackie and Huck ❤️
Hugs,
Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry 
Hi Jackie,
I am in the Raleigh area of North Carolina. It's snowed twice so far this winter. Some years it doesn't snow at all, but if I remember correctly, in the last two or three winters we've had like a light dusting or maybe an inch or something. Yesterday it snowed all day and I think it ended up being about 5-6 inches. Unfortunately, NC doesn't have the resources or really the equipment to handle when something like this happens, so everyone completely freaks out. I work for the public school system and the public libraries and everything is basically closed. Our streets don't get salted or plowed and our neighborhood is elevated, so we are stuck in the house and can't go anywhere. At least we have power, though so I'm thankful for that!
Yes, Sox is a purebred. I've always adopted from rescue before (I volunteered full-time for a Boxer Rescue group for ten years when I was younger), but in 2011, I really wanted to have a pup to go through the intensive training to become a therapy and See Spot Read dog that I could bring with me to work. But like I mentioned previously, Sox got kicked out of puppy kindergarten. He is a lovely dog and I adore him to pieces, but his temperament is all wrong for therapy work and of course, I had no idea when we selected him at 8 weeks. I could care less now and wouldn't trade him for anything - quirks and all. His father is:
AMGCHMexCH Pro's Original 501 Blues TT SOM
Wow- I wonder who that Mass breeder was with the dog in Westminster? Very cool! I love this breed, it is my favorite, but man do they have health issues. I am getting very nervous lately because Sox will be 7 this year. That is really kind of getting up there for a Boxer. Out of the 6 that I have had in my life, only two made it past 9 years of age. I am toying with applying to have him tested at NC State vet school for cardiomyopathy and their heart study on Boxers. I want to educate myself and be prepared but I also *don't* want to know if it is bad news...
Hope you are staying warm. Sorry I rambled on!
Hattie
Hugs,
Hattie and Jerry Cat (right front leg and scapula amputation due to chondrosarcoma at age 14, lived 2 1/2 years post amputation, succumbed suddenly to suspected lymphoma at age 16)
10/2001 - 10/9/2017 R.I.P ~ Love you always
No, you weren't rambling at all! His name is William Truesdale. I think his wife was very involved in the showing, I remember seeing her pictures in their clinic. Of course this was a million years ago, back when I did animal control um.... 20ish years ago? I have been in KY for 10 years. Champion Hi Tech Johnny J. Of Boxerton was one of his dogs that won best in show back in 2000. I do not remember his boxers being well behaved but they were beautiful lol. Poor Sox getting kicked out of school, lol. I am giggling a bit because I know how strong willed the breed is. They are great dogs tho, lots of work and lots of energy!
It is not quite that bad here in KY weather-wise. They can handle a couple of inches ok, finally lol. Anything more than that and it seems they want to shut the state down 
As a native RI girl I just kinda chuckle and try to stay away from the other drivers, they are really really bad! We have snow on the ground here, but that's only because the temps have stayed below freezing for the last week which is unusual. I think we are going to see some 40s, maybe even 50 this weekend unless they change the forecast again.
I miss doing rescue work, but these days there just doesn't seem like there is enough time for it anymore. Besides, Huckleberry has kept us plenty busy for the last several months!
Hope you have a good day, off to work for me!
Jackie
Hugs,
Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry
Sox is a very, very handsome boy! Love that photo of him "owning" his big red snowball! 🙂 🙂 🙂
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!
Holly - I think I missed your post from days ago. Thank you so much - we are so thankful that Stella is fitting in so nicely with us. I don't know much about Tuxedos, just think they are very pretty. Thanks for sharing that info! She is proving to be very playful and loving but on her own terms!
Jackie - looks like he was a Har-Vel Boxer. I remember hearing about this dog back in 2000...that was at the start of my obsession and service to Boxer Rescue. I've been reading up on Huckleberry - wow - what a story! Not many people would do what you did/do for him!
Sally - thanks! He's a looker for sure, but a hot mess most of the time. Love him still 
Hope you all have a lovely weekend!
Hugs,
Hattie and Jerry Cat (right front leg and scapula amputation due to chondrosarcoma at age 14, lived 2 1/2 years post amputation, succumbed suddenly to suspected lymphoma at age 16)
10/2001 - 10/9/2017 R.I.P ~ Love you always
Huckleberry is a blessing It was in disguise at first though, lol. I fell in love with that little hoodlum when he found our yard. David and I spent what seems like forever trying to get close to him to no avail. He got closer to us too, as long as we didn't physically get too close, lol. He is a joy to have here, I still cannot believe the turn around in him. And an even better plus? I have a lap kitty for the first time in a very long time! He is actually teaching Oscar (probably out of jealousy) to be a lap kitty too, and Oscar is begrudgingly realizing that he really enjoys it, lol.
My breed rescue was with Afghan Rescue in New England. I did that for a few years until I got divorced, really enjoyed it though. Maybe when I retire I will get back to doing something like that.
Looking forward to some more pictures
Jackie
Hugs,
Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry
Hi Jackie,
Both Jerry and now Stella were "street cats" before coming to live with me (although Jerry was a kitten and Stella was stray until 2 years of age). All I want in this world are pets to cuddle with me, and Jerry was not even remotely a cuddler/lap cat until after his surgery at 14! Then all of a sudden he was ok with being carried around like a baby and would stay put if you placed him in your lap.
Stella is friendly, but she jumps off laps immediately and looks miserable when you carry her or pick her up. But...Huckleberry's story gives me hope. I know she is not a tripawd, but maybe over time I can get her to be a lap cat. It HAS only been 6 weeks since we adopted her.
I loved reading your blog - thanks for sharing it. It is so inspirational. As I mentioned before, I work in the public libraries in my county and one of my favorite genres to read are inspirational true animal stories. Next on my list is Finding Gobi.
You did Afghan Hound rescue? If so, that's my mom's favorite breed of dog, which I find hilarious because we never had a pet growing up and my parents never had one as a couple. They're kooky. But I do know that is probably the reason why I over compensate and have always had multiple pets myself! I would love to help out a rescue group again but not in the capacity I did before. I got so burned out!
Hugs,
Hattie and Jerry Cat (right front leg and scapula amputation due to chondrosarcoma at age 14, lived 2 1/2 years post amputation, succumbed suddenly to suspected lymphoma at age 16)
10/2001 - 10/9/2017 R.I.P ~ Love you always
Good morning Hattie 🙂
Oscar was also a "street cat" lol, he was rescued at the ripe old age of 5 weeks His mama was as feral as Huck, and he raised Cain in our house for about a week before he gave in. Except for when he almost took my co-workers finger off (stupid him tried to pet Oscar when I finally got my hands on him, thank goodness he had leather work gloves on!) he was really quite funny. He hissed and spit at everyone that even looked at him. He is still a very unique kitty and I absolutely adore him. He follows me around like a puppy and talks to me all the time. He races me up the stairs every morning and night and drinks water from the faucet before I brush my teeth. He has been jealous of Huck, but I think they are finally starting to get along a bit. He wasn't jealous until Huck had run of the house.
Stella has plenty of time to adjust yet, she may still find her way to your lap. Andy likes to jump up and say hi. Sometimes he will sit for a bit and then he is off. At night when we sit to watch TV, Huck is right there for the entire evening. It was kinda fun writing his blog, reflecting on it all after the fact really made me realize just how much work and commitment was involved in the whole process.
Somebody from in here, a tripawd owner, Dana Hollis wrote a book. It is called Misha's Message of Pawsitivity. I bought it on Amazon for my grandson. He is autistic and talks all the time about Huckleberry because of his three paws. I have not read the entire book because they live in R.I. but when you were talking about inspirational stories that is the first thing that popped into my mind. The bit I read about it sounded just wonderful, and I thought it would be nice to support a fellow tripawd member. I don't know when it will hit the libraries, but it might be a good one to look out for.
I did Afghan rescue work for a couple of years. I was a total failure at foster parenting though lol. I fostered three of them. Rajah was taken in at 15 years old, and I "fostered" him for the last year of his life. He was breathtaking and so well behaved. His owner passed away and he went through a deep depression. When I got him, he was 10 pounds underweight. When he came to live with us he put that weight on and found some happiness before it was time for him to cross over. Then I took in Coco, she came from a couple that got divorced. I had her for about 6 months and she must have had a tumor that went undetected in her physical. Apparently it burst and they could not save her. My last rescue was Sadie. She was a young tri color that had been badly neglected. I kept her until my divorce, but she was full time special needs and went back to another volunteer when I could not provide the time for her. I hated to send her, but she needed somebody that could be with her full time. All in all I really enjoyed it though. We transported a few so that they could find forever homes, really nice people.
If you find the book, let me know. I will be doing a webcam call with my grandson hopefully this weekend to see how he liked the book 
Take care,
Jackie
Hugs,
Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry
HI Jackie,
You must have some serious cat whispering powers! I'm seriously impressed! I will keep hoping that Stella is comfortable enough to be more lap cat-ish someday, although if she never does, that's fine too.
The next time I work, I am going to look up that book in our County's database to see if we have it or if it is on order. I can also request that they purchase it if we don't have it. Sounds like it would definitely be up my alley. I need to personally read wonderful, uplifting stories on a regular basis to help combat all the horrible ones I see online and in the news. Humans truly disgust me sometimes, and heartwarming stories help restore my faith in humanity.
I love that you fostered - that was the only bit I could never do successfully. I ended up with four Boxers at once because I stunk so bad at it and always adopted them myself! If I ever won the lotto, the first thing I would do is set up an all breed rescue for older dogs. They are my weakness. I always get so upset when I see one dumped in a shelter, especially by a family who have had him or her the dog's entire life, but they just don't want to deal with an aging dog. I would gather them all up and spoil the crud out of them for the rest of their lives. I'm sure the three hounds you fostered were so content with you, clearly you have a loving and giving heart!
Hope your call to your grandson went well. I'm curious about this book now and will let you know when I find it!
Hattie
Hugs,
Hattie and Jerry Cat (right front leg and scapula amputation due to chondrosarcoma at age 14, lived 2 1/2 years post amputation, succumbed suddenly to suspected lymphoma at age 16)
10/2001 - 10/9/2017 R.I.P ~ Love you always
Good morning,
I found the book, Finding Gobi. I just got a new kindle for my birthday so I am getting to check out all kinds of cool things with it. I got my books all synced (I think) and I just finished reading my first book on it. I love how easy it is on the eyes. I had not heard of that story before, so I have downloaded a sample to check it out first. The book I was referring to is an animated children's book, not nearly as long lol. I am hoping to catch up with my son and his family today sometime, I will let you know how they liked it. It was featured on Tripawds Tuesday a little while back here's the link . I understand that need, I have a hard time even keeping up on news anymore. It's always bad and just keeps getting worse. You want to keep up on current events, but there is so much garbage to get through to stay well informed.
When I did animal control I ended up with 3 dogs and 7 cats lol. I always ended up taking what nobody else wanted or had time for. We currently have 3 cats and a dog and that is plenty as far as I am concerned! Huck wasn't planned, it just happened and I do not regret it for a moment.
Hope you are having a good morning 🙂
Jackie
Hugs,
Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry
Jackie-
Hope you were able to catch up with your grandson! You'll have to let me know how the snippet is for Finding Gobi. Our libraries don't have it currently, so I'd have to get it from another or buy it, which I have no problem with. The last one I read was a Street Cat Named Bob. It was enjoyable.
It's been a long time since we've only had two pets (our current situation). I am angling to adopt a small dog at some point (Sox is iffy with large dogs) but the husband is content to leave as is. Clearly he forgets who he is married to! Haha.
We finally have school today - all the snow has melted since last Wednesday's big snowfall (for around here), so I'm off to work. But wanted to say "hey" and wish you a nice week ahead!
Hattie
Hugs,
Hattie and Jerry Cat (right front leg and scapula amputation due to chondrosarcoma at age 14, lived 2 1/2 years post amputation, succumbed suddenly to suspected lymphoma at age 16)
10/2001 - 10/9/2017 R.I.P ~ Love you always
2 Guest(s)
