Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Today I will hike with my 8-yr old niece out along the Colorado Trail near where Calpurnia met Jerry for the first time to spread some of her ashes and say good bye. My niece was particularly close to Cali - she "raced" with her as a lead dog in some of the junior sled races the past few years after Cali became a tripawd. It is going to be a beautiful, but emotionally draining day. And frankly, I am not sure how much more I can endure right now.
After we lost Calpurnia on May 20, Bucky (da Hound) blew out his second ACL and had to have extensive knee surgery on June 9 with a 8-week crate-confined recovery. We were just getting that managed when our patriarch of the pack, Worf, suddenly and unexpectedly developed bloat and we had to make the immediate decision to put him down on June 15. We are reeling, to say the least.
I know others are in various stages of dealing with broken hearts, so I wanted to let you know you are not alone, but also to ask those who remember Calpurnia to send a though or two out to her today. It is a warm, sunny day in Colorado, with birds chirping and spring runoff waters bringing cold, clear moisture to the mountainside. There is a little doe with her brand-new spotted fawn learn the ways of the wild and I am impressed with how life goes on.
Oh TC, we knew about Worf 
but we didn't know about Bucky. We are so, so sorry, that is a lot to cope with in such a short span of time. Life can be so unfair.
Your pack and your niece will keep you strong as your heart heals. Follow their lead and know that their strength will carry you through anything.
That day on the Colorado trail feels like it happened yesterday. Our spirit and hearts are with you today and always.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I hope the day went ok. I'm sure it was emotionally draining, but it could have great meaning too. I'll keep you and your pack in my thoughts, and hope for all the strength in the world for you so your family can heal from these hard weeks.
Leslie
Praying a pray for peace for you.... I am sure it was a difficult day for you, but hopefully it was a beautiful day, and one that may give you some peace...My thoughts are with you.
Oh my.
I'm so sorry. There's not much one can say other than, I'm just sorry. I'll be thinking of you and hoping you have better days ahead.
Comet - 1999 to 2011
She departed us unexpectedly January 23, 2011 at the age of 12 1/2.
She was born with a deformed front leg and a tripawd all of her life.
Hi TC,
I didn't have time to post yesterday- but I was sending strong thoughts your way. It must have been very beautiful and very difficult at the same time.
There is a little doe with her brand-new spotted fawn learn the ways of the wild and I am impressed with how life goes on.
Life does go on, whether we want it to or not, and sometimes whether we are ready or not. I hope you find peace with all that has happened... time will heal the injured and I hope you are allowed time to grieve your losses.
Karen
I wanted to post my condolences earlier but simply couldn't see through the tears or even think straight. To have to endure such loss and pain is almost unbearable but you have so many friends on here sending healing pawsitive thoughts your way.
You and your pack will be in my thoughts...I am so sorry for your loss 
Anita, mom to Xena and my Angels, Spammy & Chloe
sounds like a beautiful way to share her ashes!
Sorry there has been so much to shoulder lately!
Heart healing wishes for you!
Wow, you sure have had a rough day and a rough month with your crew. 
I hope your day was as good as it could be spreading Cali's ashes. She was a beautiful girl with a lot of heart!
Hugs to you,
Tracy & Maggie
Maggie was amputated for soft tissue sarcoma 10-20-09
Maggie lost her battle with kidney disease on 8-24-13
Thanks for your messages. If you drive over Kenosha Pass, keep an eye out for glimpses of my wild girl out there running in the aspen trees and columbine! We will also take her back to Alaska so she can run those trails too. Hard to see this chapter end, but Cali lives on in my heart and with the pack where she taught all her secret lessons to the younger dogs.
Mush on my friends!
She lives on with us too. Mush, Cali, Mush!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I was thinking about you guys and going through my own pain, so I understood I just didn't have the heart to post at the time. I thought of her and you on your day of memorial, and pictured that beautiful wild girl walking and racing by your side. Until I read about your home and your love for your pups I thought mushing was wrong, was cruel. You have given me insight and a new understanding and I cried so hard when you wrote about Cali's last moments with you.
Mush on Cali, you have been such an inspiration to so many of us.
Elizabeth and Sammy
Diagnosed with osteosarcoma in the right front leg 8/23/10,
leg fractured 8/27/10,
leg amputated 8/30/10
http://sammyand.....pawds.com/
I couldn't begin to say how special Sammy is to us. Living and laughing with and loving this wonderful boy is priceless.
Thanks Elizabeth and Sammy. I am glad that I got a chance to show you how much these dogs love to run. It is what they were bred to do, and what makes them sing with joy. It is too bad that, like with so many things, a few bad apples give people the wrong impression about the majority. I think humans tend to give a lot of attention to negative things, and we don't hear about the good stuff. One of the great lessons Cali left me with is this: "Lead by Example." A good lesson in many aspects of my life.
fightingforsammy said:
Until I read about your home and your love for your pups I thought mushing was wrong, was cruel. You have given me insight and a new understanding and I cried so hard when you wrote about Cali's last moments with you.
The same is true for my pack, they were totally clueless about mushing. It wasn't until Cali and TC came into their lives that they realized there are far more people who would do anything for their musher dawgs and never, ever hurt or mistreat them. Cali and her pack really opened their eyes to the beauty in the sport and the people who love their teammates so much.
Oh and one more thing in case you missed it, every dawg in Cali's team is a rescue pup! Too cool.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
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