Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hello- I haven't posted here in a long while. I saw a few posts like this, I was dreading this particular post as well, and I just wanted to not think about it too much for a while. It's been a couple of months now, and Happy's nerve sheath tumor had slowly grown back, but seemingly the symptoms came on quickly. He went from a suspicious limp at the park to completely incapacitated within 6 days. I hope he wasn't in pain before that. He seemed so happy that I thought he had fully overcome this. He made it one year and 5 month after his surgery, so I think he did pretty good. I was hoping for more. I'm grateful for all those wonderful memories, and for all of the wonderful people and dogs he met and impacted in such a positive way at the park. In his final months, Happy was the friendliest dog at the park, quickly hopping from dog to dog, person to person, wagging his tail and smiling ear to ear. He ran and played, even on his last time there. He was so sweet his last months-well, he always was-but it was like he was savoring life and appreciative of everything he did. He was just perfect.
Thanks to all on this site for your support through our rough times. It made it so much more manageable, plus I met so many wonderful people here. I live in Austin and am more than willing to be a support to anyone who needs it.
It was neat that Happy got to be featured in Spirit Magazine, the Aggie Alumni Quarterly Publication, as a successful radiation story for the vet school. A photographer even came and took pics. Here is the link to the magazine article ( http://viewer.z.....910b7ef/40 )and a few other pics the photog took that day:
Thank you, everyone,
Love,
Robin and Happy
I'm so sorry to hear this. I would think of Happy often and wondered how he was doing. He always seemed, in his pictures, to be so...happy.
Safe journey to Happy's spirit. May he live in your heart forever.
Marla and Daisy
My Two Tripawds...Biscuit 
and Spirit Daisy 
I'm so sorry to hear Happy's courageous battle has come to an end. It's always so very sad when we lose our best friend. But I have to say that even through tears, I look at Happy's photo and get a big smile on my face. His name suited him perfectly. Sending healing thoughts to you.
I am sorry to hear about Happy. May your memories be sweet. RIP fly free at the Bridge.
Hugs
Michelle & 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."
I wsn't "here" when you and magnificant Happy started your joirney, so K went back and read your blogs and looked at the pictures! Oh my goodness.....HAPPY could not have been more aptly named!! As maximutt said, basically as sad as this is to ear, when yoh loo at tose pictures you cannot help but smile:-) 
Such a courageous boy!! And cute beyond words!! His marking are adorable! His wide eyed enthusiasm is contafious-----even reaching ut and touching your heart through the computet screen!!
Robin, your devotion, commitment and determination to do whatever it tkea to get the best quality for your Hapy.......just plainWOW! To have stayed by his side....and Hapy vy yours...during the rogors of radiation treatment is astounding. And clearlyit was well worth it
You did everything possible for your boy and he crossed over to the other side of life knowing...absolutely KNOWING....the definition of human love and human loyalty. Just as you felt privileged to have Happy in your life, Happy felt privileged to have you in his life!!
Your pictures of Happy will help sustain you through these difficlt times. I'm so glad he left you with so many delightful images.....I think he planned it that way!! One of my favorites on a previous post was hime catching the ball in mid air! Great photo!
I'm going back shortly to read the magazine article. Thank you for the link and thank you for sharing an incredible journey of courage, love, devotion and HAPPINESS
Holding you both gently in our hearts,
!
Sally and ...yes...her name is 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!
Oh Robin, this just breaks my heart. You joined this site about the same time as me and I remember Happy well. I am glad that you were blessed with so much time with Happy, although it is never enough. You will be in our thoughts in the sad weeks to come.
Run free, Happy.
Lisa
Zeus was a Husky mix diagnosed with Osteosarcoma at age 11. A visible lung met and suspicious spot on his liver meant a poor prognosis-six weeks was our vet's best guess. We decided to fight for our boy and his right front leg was amputated on 12/1/11. We did six rounds of chemo, changed his diet and spoiled him completely rotten. We were blessed with 10 great months after diagnosis. Against the odds, the lung met remained a single met and grew very little over those months. A wonderful furbaby with the most gentle spirit, he fought with a strength that we never imagined he possessed. We have no regrets...
http://zeuspod......pawds.com/
I'm so sorry for you loss. I know it hurts. My thoughts are with you. RIP Happy.
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
Hello Happy's Mom;
I'm a very new member so you don't know me. I am so sorry for your loss. Happy is so beautiful! He looks like he is having the best time!
I wanted to tell you about a book I bought on Etsy; it's called "my pet rememberance journal." It's $9.95. On one of the first pages it says: the purpose of this book is to enhance your healing process and honor your relationship.
It has sections on grieving, and your life together and pages for momentos.
If you decide to look at it, just go to etsy and type in my pet rememberance journal.
May God hold you in his arms and help you heal and may you find peace and joy in your memories.
Oscar's mom(Lora), Oscar and Gus
Robin, our heart breaks for you, we are so sorry to hear this. Happy was indeed a very special dog whose mission in life was to put a smile on everyone's face, including ours. One year and five months is indeed miraculous but I agree, there's never enough time.
I wish we'd had the chance to meet up last fall when our Wyatt Ray was hospitalized at A&M for a week. We knew the TAMU docs were phenomenal but we didn't know how good they really were until they took such great care of all of us. Happy was such a lucky dog to have been treated there. Go Aggies!
Thank you for sharing the beautiful story and photos, these memories of Happy will always warm our hearts. Keep in touch and remember we are here for you.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Those are wonderful photos.
I am so sorry for your loss. No matter how much time we get, it is never enough. Hugs to you, and safe travels over the bridge to Happy.
"Let us think the unthinkable, let us do the undoable, let us prepare to grapple with the ineffable itself, and see if we may not eff it after all."
-Douglas Adams, Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency
"May I recommend serenity to you? A life that is burdened with expectations is a heavy life. Its fruit is sorrow and disappointment. Learn to be one with the joy of the moment."
-Douglas Adams, The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul
Thank you all for your kind and meaningful replies. I could write a book about Happy, but every time I've started to write I just get sad. As I am sure most of you could relate to. I can't believe two months has gone by, but it still feels so fresh. I had a close friend pass away in a car accident not long before Happy, and he was special to her family, too. He provided a lot of comfort to them and especially to me after it happened. It's even hard to distinguish the grief sometimes because they were both so significant. One detracts attention from the other, yet somehow compounds it as well.
Don't mean to go on about that, but I've felt kind of bad I have not written or fully honored my relationship with Happy as I would like to yet. There will never be another Happy-he was so special. It's still so strange he's not right by my side. I guess we know with dogs their life span is not that of a person, but then, we don't know about that sometimes either. We know one of us will be gone one day, so to live in the moment and enjoy each one fully. That's about all we can do.
Once again, thank you-your support means so much, and that you remember us even though we fell off the face for a while. Each story on here is so special because we love our animals so much-they are every ounce as significant as human relationships, and in many cases more understanding and compassionate.
Robin,
I'm so sorry for your loss. It's always hard, and those who are truly once-in-a-lifetime dogs are even harder. I remember when you joined the site. I thought Happy was the coolest looking dog I'd seen in a long time. I loved his color pattern and his build. He seemed built perfectly for flying through the air. And of course he always smiled.
We don't always know the impact our dogs have in our lives and our homes until they're gone. Dakota was not a noisy or intrusive dog (well, except for that bit about laying at the top of the stairs so we had to step way over him). He was quiet and calm and a behind-the-scenes dog. But once he was gone, I couldn't believe how he had filled the house with his quiet grace.
Some people have found it helpful to come here to the chat room after losing their dog. I think it can help because we all know to a certain degree what each other is going through. You may want to consider that. I did, but I've had to take a bit of a break the last month or so. It can be easy to get overwhelmed, so just make sure to take care of yourself. Get what you need, and remember people here can provide an awful lot of support.
Thinking of you.
Shari
From abandoned puppy to Tripawd Warrior Dude, Dakota became one of the 2011 February Furballs due to STS. Our incredibly sweet friend lived with grace and dignity till he impulsively raced over the Bridge on 12-15-12.
Dakota's thoughtful and erudite blog is at http://shari.tr.....pawds.com/
Robin I jst want to add that you have hmored Happy's life beautifully. A dog like that doesn't need to lot of worc to describe the importance of his presence here on earth. That smile, among all the other wonderful characteristics that made him so special, will jave apositive impact on this site forever!! We are all honored to get to know him through you-----and those DELIGHTFUL photos:-)
Hugs,
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!
That is one happy hound! I'm sure she's just as happy, waiting for you in heaven as all dogs are.
Sorry for your loss.
I'm so sorry for your loss. Happy looks like he lived a great life and had a wonderful mom who spoiled him in all the best ways. A year and 5 months is a great accomplishment! But as everyone has said, there's just never enough time. Thinking of you during this difficult time.
Kathy
Tasha was a German ShepherdBorder Collie mix who was diagnosed with OSA at age 8. On December 29, 2011 she had her front right leg amputated and received 4 rounds of chemo. Sadly and suddenly Tasha became sick and we discovered she had liver cancer that had spread to her lung. After almost 19 months, Tasha earned her wings on July 17, 2013. No regrets and never forgotten.
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