Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Ah, what else can I say...40 days is a special time for my culture's way of berevement. 40 days is when the soul goes to heaven. I am filipino and we have prayer meetings every day for 40 days after they have passed to help them leave our world and into the next.
I miss her so badly. I get blind-sided by memories of her, random thoughts through the day. I smell things that remind me of her. I see evidence of a much happier time: nose prints on the glass doors, dirty smudges on the drywall, her scratches on my back seat, the scent of the stairway that leads to our garage sends a flood of memories of the day I taught her how to go down the stairs as a puppy.
I didnt know how much i loved her until she was gone.This hurts, big time.
I want her back, but still remember how much pain she was in at the end. It was a bittersweet thing: letting go of her but also allowing her to let go of that cancer. I know we did the right thing by making the call, i do not regret that. I am just reeling with the pain of losing her at such a young age. She was perfect, knew exactly how to act, knew what i wanted. I never knew a dog who knew that her master was irritated with putting her toys back in the basket and would do it herself. Never! Such a good girl.
My sweet, sweet Shelli Belle.
The quest for world domination continues on three legs. Comply minions!
http://ritables.....ipawds.com
Read about my big sister Shelli who just passed away to the lymphnode sarcoma
http://bellesgo.....press.com/
rita, wish i could say 'it will get better', but we all know what it's like to have that special soulmate. grieving is natural, just try to offset each tear with a happy memory. sending blessings to you.
charon & gayle
Life is good, so very, very good!!! Gayle enjoyed each and every moment of each and every wonderful day (naps included). She left this world December 12, 2011 – off on a new adventure.
Love Never Ends
2 months isn't a long time to grieve. We've been doing it for 5 months now, but have to say the pain isn't as intense. Sending you lots of golden hugs. The happy memories will put a smile on your face.
Cathy/Jane/Spirit Skyler/Chloe
Two months isn't very much time to mend a hurt heart. It's painful for months and months so it's understandable that you are still expecting her to be there.
I'm sorry.
I didn't have and still don't have perfect dogs. Ill-behaved dogs are magnets to me so I don't know what it's like to have a well mannered dog. But the loss of Rugby has been very hard. It's been 1year and 4 months that I lost him and there are moments I still find myself doing something and expecting him to come running. I especially miss Comet and him together. He wasn't suppose to die before her since he was younger. And I wasn't suppose to like boy dogs either!
I miss them wrestling in the middle of the floor while we were watching TV. Or him being bored and grabbing a toy and shaking it so hard that he flung it across the room and giving me a look of, Ooops! I miss his laugh and big smile. He's the only dog I've had that always had a big smile on his face most of the time.
So, yes - it's hard. It's very hard. Will it get better? Somewhat. But it takes a lot of time.
In the meantime, just keep grieving. Grief is good for the soul. And like Charon said, think of a happy moment when you think of a sad moment. And don't be afraid to talk about her to friends and family. Good friends will listen and support you.
Wishing for happier times for you,
Comet's mom
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.
As has already been said - two months isn't long enough for a heart to heal from the loss of a loved one. At all. All those random memories - no matter how painful and how poignant - are so okay.
I'm going to ditto what Comet's mom said and wish for happier, and peaceful, times for you.
Catie -
Birthday – November 4 2003
Amputation – January 13 2010
Crossed the Bridge – June 2 2011
Rita,
Know that there are so many here in this commuity that have - are going through the same feelings of loss that you are now facing. One side of me would like to find magic words to make the pain go away, but then too, I also know that this pain we feel now is just the love that we have developed with them. This bond is even stronger when we go through the battle to fight for more quality time. I have been going through this for nearly eleven months for Miss Cherry, and it is only easier because I find ways to divert my thinking. However, because of a number of reasons now, I find that my feeling of loss for "The Girls" (my two white Standard Poodle litermates) has become even more intense, and I lost them in 1994. In time, it will be more of a comfort to you that your little one is no longer suffering. You should always remember that you are not totaly without her, for the gifts that she gave you will live with you forever.
Spirit Cherry's Dad
Rita,
The 2 month mark was really hard for me, harder than the first month. Having other pups at home has really helped me in some ways, but it is really hard not to compare them to Maggie. Sometimes I think it makes it harder, I don't know exactly why. Maybe because I can't look at two black pug dogs and not instantly think of Mag. I notice how much her little sister looks like her now, and I notice how much new pug boy Obie is different from her...
But I will say as I near the 6 month mark, that there are way more smiles than tears. And for the most part I enjoy telling people about her, and how special she was.
Sending strong and peaceful thoughts your way.
Karen
I am sorry you are hurting so much. One good thing is that you have a place here to share your feelings with people who really truly understand. We don't just say it, we feel it in our hearts. Some times the ache in my heart from missing JD is so great I can't breathe.
As you move away from this 40 day mark and you embrace the thought of her soul going to heaven, I hope good memories can creep in and give you some comfort.
Spirit JD's mom
JD
One Tough Girl
(1999-2010)
-Diagnosed with osteosarcoma of her left front leg –
-Amputation July 23 2010 –
-The cancer didn't get her, but she is gone-
-She fought the cancer and loved life till bloat brought her down August 29th, 2010-
Now she watches over her mom and two new sisters, the Quad-Paws Serena and Maya
Here's proof this is such a great family, we all know what it's like to be there and understand why. Gus has been gone almost 4 months and I still can't believe he won't be back. I think we all say if we could have just one more lick, maybe throw the ball just one more time, one more hug, for me I would give anythng to have Gus get up on the couch and lay his head on my lap or have him walk out to the barn with me and watch him jump up in the bunk and harras the cows. I still have the block there at the waterer so he could get a drink, I can't bring myself to move it, I guess this is how we heal. I think most of us have gone through this before, but like I say, having gone through the cancer journey and all the emotion connected with it makes losing them that much harder, which maybe is the reason it takes longer for the pain to ease. So don't feel like your alone in how you feel, I think it's a normal feeling after losing our buddies, and if you think about it, when we offer advice to someone new here, we tell them all dogs will heal a little different, we are the same way, time will make our loss less painful, for some it will just take longer and we all handle it a little different. Paws up, Spirit Gus and Dan
My buddy Gus had a left front amputation on April 7, 2010 and lived a great life until July 26,2010
Thank you so much everyone, it does very much help to come here and know that we all hurt and heal in the same way. I feel comfort knowing that what i am feeling is real and valid, and not a bunch of nonsense and indulgence.
I love hearing how everyone can relate, its so awesome and wonderful that you all reach out to me to help me during this loss. I never have lost anyone I really loved (ug, losing Grandma was not as traumatic as this, terrible...i feel so selfish for admiting that) and know that this pain I am feeling is not random, but EARNED because I had such a strong connection to Shelli.
I know, I just KNOW she is up there, looking down and wondering why i am so sad.
The quest for world domination continues on three legs. Comply minions!
http://ritables.....ipawds.com
Read about my big sister Shelli who just passed away to the lymphnode sarcoma
http://bellesgo.....press.com/
Lots of us have felt that the loss of our dogs was more powerful than the loss of human relatives. One of the reasons I think this is so common is because dogs are non-judgemental beings, their love is without limits. Humans, on the other hand, always have some kind of boundaries and roles that affect their relationships with one another, even the best of them.
To lose a dog is to lose the most non-judgemental love of our lives. It hurts.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I too understand. I lost my 17 year old named Jazzy last November. We had her all of her life and she was completely the smartest and the most loyal dog I have ever had the pleasure to love. She was our family, my husband and I didn't have children, so she was it. Or maybe a big sister/friend/daughter to me.
Time has really healed so much of the pain for us. But still, sometimes standing outside where we always stood together, or needing that special dog that was watch-dog/independent thinker when there is an unexpected and unknown person at the door, or even when I walk by the toy box and see the dog toys with one of her favorites on top, my heart hurts. Just flashes of pain now.
I miss her but it isn't nearly as painful as last winter when we first lost her. I think of her with love, so much love. So much laughter too. She was one smart and funny dog. We have a million stories about her.
Time will help you too. There is no way to speed time up, but as you are coming to find out, many of us have suffered such loss too and for some reason that seems to help. So I just want to say that I am sorry for your pain. We really know how it feels.
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.
I never have lost anyone I really loved
I just read about your Shellie. It's very sad. And I'm sure you think with Mousie, you need her more than ever now. What a terrible time you must have had!
I have lost all of my immediate family to death except my mom. And I can tell you the pain was just as real when I lost Rugby. I think you can liken it to losing a child to a smaller degree. The pain of losing close family last forever because it changes your indentity and you lose part of yourself because there isn't anyone to share the memories of life with anymore. The immediate pain of losing a beloved pet is the same.
Hugs,
Comet's mom
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.
Thinking of you & sending you hugs & peace from across the pond. I just read a nice quote from Sir Walter Scott:
"Recollect that the Almighty, who gave the dog to be companion of our pleasures & our toils, hath invested him with a nature noble & incapable of deceit" (Sir Walter Scott)
They truly are amazing, giving, beings & leave their pawprints on our hearts forever.
Take Care
Ragleys Mum
The loss is so intense it would not be realistic to expect to heal in so short a time. Tai has been gone for almost a month - she was my soulmate. Sometimes it feels like yesterday, sometimes it feels like a year ago. I think of her every day. I miss her tremendously. I still cry and expect that I will for quite a long time. I can't talk about her without feeling my eyes well up and hearing my voice start to crack.
Don't be hard on yourself. Shelli was a huge part of your life and your heart. Allow yourself to grieve for as long as you need to. Eventually the pain will start to subside all by itself but don't rush things. You are merely giving recognition of how important she was. Many people won't understand but they, in my mind, are not worthy then of 1) my friendship or 2) being dog companions.
RIP sweet Shelli and help your Mum to remember you with a heart full of love and void of pain.
Angel Tai's Mum
Tai – 9 yr old lab. Diagnosed Osteosarcoma Dec 18/09. Front right leg amputated Dec 21/09. Started chemo Jan 7/10. Lung mets discovered Sept 16/10. Valiant to the end on Oct 26/10 when cancer reappeared in a leg and we made the decision to set her free. Forever in my heart where not even cancer can take her from me.
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