Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Today is the 1st, it could have, should have been Tasha's 21 month ampuversary. I am still having such a hard time dealing with losing her to hemangio. I still feel she was cheated. She survived and beat the odds dealing with bone cancer, amputation and then getting another cancer losing her one week to the date of her diagnosis of hemangio. The day we set her free was suppose to be an appointment to have her bandage and stitches removed and a chest x ray taken and if the xray was clear we were going to be referred to a Dr. in Phoenix. Losing Tasha has been totally gut wrenching. My heart still feels so broken, tears never seem to quit rolling down my cheeks, the ache in my chest is constant. I am not sure a first of the month will ever pass without tears and longing for my girl. I miss hearing Tasha woof at me for tummy pets, I miss getting down on the floor laying my head on her chest and just loving her, feeling the love for her surge through me. I want to smell her again, hug her, celebrate everyday with her. What I would do just to hold her one more time, one more kiss.
I feel blessed that we celebrated 19 wonderful ampuversaries together, I know that however many we celebrated it never would have been enough. I know as I grieve and tears are rolling down my cheeks there are so many of you that are grieving the loss of your pups, my heart breaks for you also, I just never could have imagined how totally devastating life would be without my girl, Tasha in it.
I know life has to go on and it does, we brought Roxie into out lives, she is sweet, very loving, she is fitting into our lifes beautifully and we are loving her but............
Tasha 8 years old, First cancer diagnosis 6/26/09, Last cancer diagnosis 9/26/09, Amputation 10/01/09, Loving our girl moment by moment.
Tasha lost her battle and became my Angel on May 4 2011. Forever in my heart….
JoAnn, I'm so sorry. It hasn't been long at all, and you have every right to feel the way you do, never forget that. All of us send a group hug to you right now, we can totally relate.
Dogs' lives are far too short, and when they are made even shorter by stupid cancer, it breaks your heart for a long, long time.
I know it's hard, but try to remember, that for every beautiful moment you shared together, for every thing Tasha did to make you happy, those feelings and good times never go away. I hope you can find comfort in them as time goes on. Until then, you are always welcome to talk with us here.
Happy Ampuversary Spirit Tasha, you are always #1 to us!
{{{{hugs}}}}}
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Oh JoAnn, I soooo feel your pain too. But, it has only been a couple of months for you, and in time the pain won't be as "raw" as it has been.
Tasha was so blessed to have a pawrent such as you, and now you have Roxie to care for and love. Tasha will always live in your heart, and your love for her will only deepen in time...and soon more smiles will replace the tear tracks on your face.
Close your eyes, and imagine Tasha running around at Rainbow Bridge with all the other Tripawd heros and their siblings. I often do that, and amy happy to know that we (us Tripawd members) have many, many guardian angels up there to help us/guide us.
Sending you many, many golden hugs.
Cathy
joann, it's hard to heal a broken heart, especially one that has loved so deeply. give yourself some more time and definitely don't deny yourself the right to grieve. but, try, in a little while, to replace a tear or two with a happy memory of tasha. you have so many happy memories with her - you were so kind to share so many with us on the forums. it's hard, and some parts will always be hard. i'm sure many of us have those 'calendar days' that bring tears, even years after our loses. love never ends.
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
I know how you feel. The 26th is my hard day, my cheated day. And in addition, the full moon still brings me to tears. Trouble was affected by the full moon all her life. I now refer to it as the Trouble Moon.
It will get better, but it has been a very slow process for me, and I suspect it is the same for many of us. It does help to think of the happy times, to share those happy thoughts with others.
Hugs to you!
Shanna & Spirit Trouble ~ Trouble gained her wings 3/16/2011, a 27 1/2 month cancer survivor, tail wagging. RIP sweetheart, you are my heart and soul. Run free at Rainbow Bridge.
The November Five - Spirits Max, Cherry, Tika, Trouble & Nova. 11/2008 - 3/2013 An era ends as Queen Nova crossed the Bridge.
JoAnn,
We understand. I know it doesn't make it better but we do understand.
I think it can especially be hard when you lose two in a short time like you did with Ruby and then Tasha. I know there isn't a day that goes by, even now coming up on 2 years that I don't think of Rugby and Comet still together.
My only advice is keep coming here and keep posting. It's theraputic for whatever reason. Not having anyone or any place to keep the memory alive of Rugby was very hard on me. But being able to keep Comet's memory alive in some trivial way has helped me.
And one last little advice - open your heart really, really wide for Roxie. My heart never opened up for Rocket (aka monkeybutt) but then one day something magical happened and now I see myself loving him every bit as much as I did Comet and Rugby. Okay, maybe not as much as Comet...because she was different and needy - but I love him a lot!!
And like Cathy said, imagine them all having a blast. I know I do! In my mind, I can see Comet being bossy to Rugby and I can see my brother taking care of them all since he adored dogs as much as we do.
Many hugs to you my friend.
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.
There are truly no words that I can say that will make you feel better...I just wish that I could bring your girl back for you. I wish I had Raven back. I blissfully dream of him sometimes and wake up to the nightmare of the fact that he's really gone.
It's so soon for you. It will take time, but it will get better. Gosh, read back to my posts, people were truly worried about me I was in such a dark place. I am amazed at how gracefully some people handle their losses, I don't. I became a wallowing puddle of depression. We are all individuals. I couldn't see that I ever would not spend the day crying, but now I do. Now, I smile when I think of him. I miss him, but am not nearly as SAD.
Did I miss something that you got a new doggie??
Hang in there, you are in my thoughts and prayers. Hugs!
Dawn
Rottie Raven, osteosarcoma at 8-1/2 years old, amputation in October '09 and in February '10 due to liver mets he went back to heaven where he came from. raven.tripawds.com
Now I have Miles, rottie mix amputee from a shelter and traveled 1500 miles to find his way here through the Rescue Railroad thanks to tripawds.com. miles.tripawds.com
JoAnn - we are all here for you, and totally understand your grief. Our pups get into our hearts as only they can, and they love us so completely. Tasha was a very special girl, and it will take time for your loss to heal. Take your time - and know you have this entire community behind you, sending lots of virtual hugs. And you have Tasha looking down at you - she will be with you always.
Hugs,
Holly, Zuzu and Susan
Holly joined the world of tripawds on 12/29/2009. She has a big little sister, Zuzu, who idolizes Holly and tries to make all of her toys into tripawds in Holly's honor. And she's enjoying life one hop at a time!
http://anyemery.....ipawds.com
JoAnn - I haven't been on in a little bit and know that I'm missing out on some key events. But I saw your post and had to respond. I totally totally relate to the pain you're feeling. I was at the beach recently (Mackenzie's very favorite place) where a flood of memories consumed me about Mackenzie. It's been 6 months and I'm still so heartbroken....she was my life, my everything and now she's gone. I was telling someone how being a part of this community has helped me cope with my grief and I find myself coming back because this is the only community that truly truly understands this grief and loss and what we all go through. So please know that you are not alone and we all share these same feelings of loss with you - feelings that can be just so gutwrenching at times and so slow to pass. Just when I'm feeling a little better, something takes hold and I find myself again grieving just as hard as I did in the beginning. I have a new puppy and Kobe who is a complete love - it's wonderful I know but there's still a huge piece that's missing from my heart and that's Mackenzie.
Give yourself some time - it's still so soon since Tasha and Ruby - you've been through 2 huge losses that you probably haven't been given the time to properly grieve - move through the pain as best as you can and just know that you are now being cared for by your Angels who are looking out for you and want to help you through this.
You are in my thoughts and prayers. We are here for you.
Kami, Angel M, Kobe and Scarlett
My sweet golden Mackenzie. She became my angel on Dec 29, 2010 at the age of 8 1/2 although she was always my angel from the time we brought her home. She was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in Sept 2009 and officially became a tripawd (front leg) on Nov 5, 2009. She will be forever in my heart and now she's running free with all of our other tripawd heroes. I love you Mackenzie!
I know Tasha is your "heart" dog. It is more brutally sad when we lose our dogs of our heart. I agree with what the others are saying so well. I wanted to post so you could know that I read this too, that I feel your pain too.
These dog members of our family don't get celebrated outside other dog lovers and the love isn't "understood" by mainstream society, so it is like we suffer in silence, unless we meet a kindred spirit, like we have here. It makes the loss so much more painful somehow. We don't time off as we would if we lost a family member without fur, or we don't get the support we need in the same way as if we lost a human best friend.
So, I want you to know I understand, I hurt for you, and am sending you hugs with tears. Your loss is real, take the time to grieve that you need. Your Tasha also wants you to heal too. I bet you she would feel so sad that you are sad now, she would probably try and get you to smile. Try to think of her like that, trying to make you happy so you won't be sad anymore. She can still be there for you and I bet she is trying to. Love like you have with her is an amazing force, feel it, it never fades away.
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 know it can be so very hard sometimes! Even the happy memories can leave one feeling so empty... now. Breathe, just take it one moment at a time. The breathing will get easier and then the happy memories will bring comfort and laughter some day!!! It's taken me two years and I am just getting there, you will too in your own time!
I am so sorry for your loss. All any of us can do when we lose one of our fur babies is take one day at a time. I am trying to do that myself. Some days I can go all day without tears, and other days..they just flow...It's okay though...take the time to grieve and remember...She will always be with you in your heart and memories, and then someday you will be reunited! This is a wonderful place with wonderful people, and we all support each other and will be here for you!
Hugs to you..
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