Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat

Sally, 

I am so unbelievably, incredibly, and a bunch of other adjectives sorry to hear about Happy Hannah. What an amazing dog she was and WOW did you give her an amazing, beautiful life! 

I KNOW she knows how much you will always love her, and you best believe that she will be looking down on you every single day for the rest of your life. 

My heart is so broken to hear this news. I can't believe it. We are all here for you no matter what!!! 

Sending you so much love and Happy Hannah all of the happy-hannahness in the world! 

Love, 

Anna and Tyson

Sally, I am so so sorry and sad to hear this.  I haven't been around much since we said goodbye to our Lili (almost nine months ago, hard to believe).  Well, I have lurked a bunch, checking in every few days, but I haven't found it in me to post.  I have eagerly read all of your updates about Happy Hannah, always remembering what a support you were in our final days with Lili.  I'm so sorry I wasn't a support for you in the final days the way that you were for me.  

I also remember your thread--I can't remember the original title, but something like "I have made a horrible decision"-- which was right at the top of the boards when I first found them as we were making our decision about Lili's amputation.  I devoured that thread, every word of it.  I read everyone's supportive comments to you, and your regular updates talking about the little upticks in how Hannah was doing.  And I thought -- we can do this, too, with a community like this one behind us.  That thread made me stick around here, take the plunge with Lili, and know that I'd find support however things turned out.  Of course, the thread ended up being much happier at the end, which was an inspiration along the way.  So please don't worry -- I will never forget Hannah.  

The story of Hannah's goodbye reminded me of Lili, who inhaled food and wagged her tail until the end.  She just couldn't walk due to the mets in her spine.  Those spirited happy girl dogs sure do know how to make these decisions tough.  But I know you did the right thing, at the right time for you and Hannah, and I also know that Lili is just tickled out there in the great beyond to have a new friend like Hannah to get into trouble with.  

I'm thinking of you and sending big hugs your way.

Sally,

I'm in the middle of my class and grabbed my ipad to check on you. As soon as I reread your first post and started to think about your pain, tears started to well up. I did have to compose myself so that no one in class would notice.....but wow was that hard to do.

I, too, would like to sincerely apologize for not taking the time to comment on all of Hannah's celebrations. This past month, I've only quickly visited the site a few times, but every time I saw a post about Hannah, I smiled sooooo wide. I loved her without ever meeting her.

You and Happy Hannah have been SUCH an OUTSTANDING inspiration to everyone, me and Tyson included. I don't know how I would have gotten through everything without you two. Not only did you give us advice, but you truly took the time to pour your entire heart and soul into every comment.

I do hope that we are helping you, because although we re not there in person, WE ARE RIGHT THERE WITH YOU. I promise you that. We are all there eating 700 pounds of chocolate with you, crying with you, laughing at memories with you.... Absolutely everything.

Wrapping you in love and cyber-hugging you like crazy,

Anna and Tyson

Dearest Sally,

We are so, so sorry to hear that Happy Hannah has crossed the bridge. Please know that we will never, ever forget her funny adventures or her happy spirit. We promise.

Did you hear the Oaktown Pack howling last night? They went crazy, and I realize now it must have been when Hannah passed by to say goodbye on her way to the Bridge.

You gave Hannah the best and final gift that any of us can give our beloveds, in the right place, at the right time. You lived life to the fullest with her and none of us could wish for more than that. Thank you for sharing Hannah and the lessons you learned from her and your journey with her with the rest of us. As others have already said, Happy Hannah is truly unforgettable. And thank you Sally, for spreading so much love throughout this community. You have been an inspawration, an educator, a friend, a shoulder to cry on, a kick in the pants for all of us. You have been there for so many, of course we all want to be there for you!

I ran across this poem below on Patricia McConnell's blog one day. I really like it because it doesn't sugar coat anything and sums up those first devastating days so very well. You are not alone in this, so many of us have been right where you are right now and we know how much it hurts. We are here for you.

Run free as the wind Happy Hannah! We know you are burnin' down the HOUSE over the rainbow........

With all our love and healing tripawd strength,

Martha and the Oaktown Pack

Things to do after your dog has died

Sweep the floor

Look out the window

Pant

Make a cup of tea and some toast

But then not eat them

Change the sheets on the bed

Try to sing

Start to cry

Forget what day it is

Stumble into a corner of the floor and hold your knees tightly

Keen

Pull yourself together

Make another cup of tea and this time drink it

Look out a different window

Stare at that spot on the floor where your dog used to stretch out, languid and happy, his paws twitching as he raced across sleep meadows and into dream ravines filled with moss and ferns and the scent of foxes

Look for the Kleenex

Use toilet paper instead

Wander around the house, your heart like a damned anvil in your chest

Heat up leftovers

Push them around the plate before leaving the entire thing in the sink

Look for what is not there

Hear things

Feel the forgotten fur beneath your fingertips

Feel the forgetting begin

Hold a memory, any memory, bright and shining, soft and sad, smelling of wet fur and leaves, with a whisker there and muddy paw prints left on the stairs, of a walk of a hike of a trip to the park with a treat and a bone and a belly rub snacks stolen off the counter and tug of war and the squeaky toy a glance of complicity in play with your hand on head with tail wagging and breath misting in the morning light or the moon over the trees while an owl croons ears are pricked and nose to the ground sniffing, sniffing, sniffing following the invisible trail to its joyful finding

Put on your pajamas

Turn around three times before you curl up by the rope toy and find yourself chasing the echo of a bark into a night that will never end

Grow a tail

       Catherine Young 11.27.12

So very sorry for your loss, I know you loved Hannah Oh so very much.

What a beautiful way you chose to let her go!

I had a visit with a lady who ministered at hospices once and she told me that when someone is dying, they always see angels and the angels are always dancing....that was a comforting thought to me!

I am sure the angels were so happy to greet Hannah and from what I have seen of her personality....SHE was a dancing and a wagging right along with them!

Healing heart wishes,

Bud's mama