Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Today is one month already, from losing my Polly....I ordered and just received this lovely memorial name plate yesterday for her ashes.
It seems any milestones of her, will now be in weeks, months, and years of memorial tributes. My heartache has not eased very much, but given time, I will adjust to the fact she is no longer here. Each day that I wake up, my first thoughts are still of her.....Oh, how I miss my sweet, beautiful, special, blonde girl...... 
Bonnie & my sweet Angel Polly
Bonnie,
You think about Polly every morning because she is still with you...in your heart and your memories. I hope that your memories of your beautiful girl bring some smiles and some comfort. I know memories don't really ease the heartache, but I hope they help a little bit.
Sending you love.
Hugs,
Carol
Thinking of you and Polly today. As time goes on your tears will be replaced with smiles as you remember your sweet girl. It takes time and I know it hurts so bad for a long time. Her name plate is so cool!
Hugs,
Amy & Libby
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
{{{{{{hugs}}}}}}
What a beautiful memorial, thank you for sharing that with us. I know these milestones are emotional, especially the first ones. We started this topic as a way to mend our hearts and honor the "angel-a-versaries", feel free to post there, we love hearing about Polly:
Thinking of you today and always . . .
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
((((hugs)))).... I can't even imagine .... Polly is with you every day in your heart for forever ...
lots of love,
Alison and Shelby
Shelby Lynne; Jack Russell/Shiba Inu mix. Proud member of the April Angels of 2014.
October 15, 2000 to April 8, 2014
Our story: Broke rear leg in June 2013 - non-conclusive results for cancer so leg was plated and pinned. Enlarged spleen in September 2013 and had it removed and was diagnosed with Hemangiosarcoma and started chemotherapy. Became a Tripawd January 8th, 2014 and definitive Hemangiosarcoma diagnosis. Three major surgeries in 7 months and Shelby took them all like a champ only to lose her battle to cancer in her brain. We had 8 amazing extra months together and no regrets. #shelbystrong #loveofmylife
I am thinking of you today. These milestones especially the 1st ones suck. I know still get up thinking about Sassy, I think about her often. Just because they are over the bridge doesn't mean that you cant still have those great memories. She will show that she is still with you.
I now can smile at memories of Sassy instead of crying. It does ease with time. Don't ge tme wrong you will always miss her but will be able to smile much more when thinking of those memories
love her name plate
hugs
Michelle & Angel 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."
Yeah, I'm not sure that the painof loss eases, it's more like you said...you "adjust". But that adjustment takes a long time.
Whenyou've been a care giver like younhave for sweet, beautiful Polly, the voidis compunded. "Routines" are no longer and the void cannot be filled You have just being doing things so "automatically" for over a year and that pattern has been completely turned upside down.
Yet, you will work through this because POLLY WOULD NOT WANT YOU TO BE SAD. She knows you will be for awhile. She also knows she left you with sooooo many treasured moments to help fill the void...bit by bit...ever so slowly. I do think when you get her blog going and can post her pictures, her cntiuing legacy, what she did that made you laugh, what you did that made her tail wag...all those shared meries with people who understand are so life affirming.
Do you have a special spot outside that Poly and you enjoyed? Maybe this Spring you could plant a special flower, or tree, and nurture the soil with some of Polly's ashes. In nature, nothing ever "dies"...it "transforms" into another form of life. An oak leaf falls to the ground as it ends one form of life and transitions to another.....it becomes nutrient rich muclh...the mulch harbors a seed, or perhaps even an acorn...the acorn sprouts into a majestic oak..and the whole circle lf life repeats.
I think Sweet Polly would love seeing you relaxing under the shade of her oak tree!!
So glad Polly brought you here with us You are BOTH such a gift. We vaue you and apreciate the courage it takes to stay. But we also know Poly's not through touching lives and nspiring others with her journey. Thank you. You already know this, but it's worth repeating. Poly's life mattered! She wil NEVER be forgotten here!!
Love and light!
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!
Oh Bonnie, I know how your heart hurts and I'm so sorry. It's wonderful that you think of Polly every day! She's forever a part of your life and that's something to embrace and enjoy! Do you talk to her? Are you able to share your thoughts and stories of Polly with your family and friends? Sometimes it's comforting to know that others are thinking of her too and maybe you can share a moment or a laugh together about your sweet angel.
I love the name plate you got. I didn't know that Polly was short for Pollyanna, how fitting!
Ok, so I want to share the little daily routine I have that is helping me feel better. The first month I cried, BALLED, every day except one. It was so painful to hold my sadness and emptiness inside, I felt like I couldn't breathe again. That unbearable kicked in the stomach feeling was back. I decided I NEEDED to continue showing and sharing my love of Jersey Girl to help me get to acceptance. I decided that just because she was physically gone from my life didn't mean I had to eliminate her from my daily routine. After all, I'm alive and she's a huge part of my living, breathing, feeling heart! I don't know, maybe something similar will help you. Or maybe you'll read this and think I'm wacko. Lol. If nothing else, at least you might smile.
So here's what I do. Every morning I kiss a wooden heart I have with Jersey Girl's name engraved on it. It goes around the urn I have on my dresser which also holds a picture of her. Then I run my finger over the clay paw print my vet gave us (with FUR stuck in each toe!) and I say 'good morning baby girl' or something like that. I have pictures of Jersey EVERYWHERE and I talk to her all day long. Literally. Out loud! I've got a picture as the wallpaper on my cell phone, as the wallpaper on my laptop, framed pics on the desk, a snapshot on our office bulletin board, and on and on. We're on the road again in our RV and I actually brought the urn!!!! I also put pictures in a hard plastic hanging frame and hung it above the windshield in the motorhome, between the 2 front seats. Lol. It's helping my friend. Truly, it is.
Try to think of Polly looking down at you from heaven with those beautiful brown eyes. What would her expression be if she saw you sad? What would she do to make you smile again? Picture that! What would you say back to her? Say it out loud. OUT LOUD! Smile, your girl is right there with you - every minute, every day. What a love!
My wish for you is peace in your heart. It will come.
Paw love my friend,
Claudia and Angel Jersey Girl.. who is talking to Angel Polly and saying she wants her Mama to BE HAPPY!!
I love reading about your routine Claudia, we do something similar ourselves even today, so many years later. It does help!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Thanks to all of you, so much, I do love you all.....there is NO one on earth, that understands better than everyone here. And thanks for the thumbs up for this adorable memorial plate I found for Polly, it just screamed her name.
Sally......Thank you for the wonderful idea to plant something to remember Polly by....she loved blueberries, so I may have to plant another one along with my other blueberry bushes that will just be her special one....she also used to love to pee in my blueberry bushes, so I always knew why they tasted a bit different, lol !! Also, once again, thanks for your kind, loving, uplifting words.
Claudia.....Yes, Polly is short for the name Pollyanna, from one of my most favorite Disney movies. Funny, the movie has been playing on the Hallmark channel all of a sudden since Polly died, so I just sit and watch, and cry....Polly truly had the same effect on everyone in life, that Pollyanna the little girl in the movie did. And you and I honestly think a lot alike...I have cried everyday, I just finally started a blog here about Polly, I have her pictures located in several places in my house, so all I do is turn around somewhere and one is there, I go to her urn as well as my other two beloved departed Lab girls and touch each one on my dresser, I have this very large blown up cute pic of her and one of my Lab Maggie taped in my laundry room downstairs and plant a kiss on both of them everytime I am downstairs, I have a paw print as well, and a little bag of her fur that I have sitting with her urn. The most helpful of all, is having her fleece coat I made for her way back when she developed her Immune mediated thrombocytopenia, that I put on her every winter, and have it under my pillow at night.....I know, this is probably weird to some people, and maybe "too much information", but I seriously could not get through life right now without these little things and rituals. Thanks for your sweet, comforting words, as well.
Keeping all of you in my heart always....
Bonnie & Angel Polly
Bonnie, I just want to send you hugs and say I think of you. Our love to our pets are soo big! I really think they can feel it in dogs heaven 
. As said before you shall see after a while you can start to smile more than cry over your wonderful memories you got together. Soon it is one year since I lost my Penny and still I cry every now and then but I also smile when I think of her.
Claudia, what a wonderful routine! I also talk to Penny and really feel she's helping me. For example I started training and when I run I think of her and tell her I shall fight as she did with so many things and that gives me strength. I have a very strong memory of our "walks/running". I see her in front of me running (because that was easier for her than walking. She had no problem walking, but she prefered running when we walked ) and her ears were flapping and she was so happy. That's a wonderful picture in my head. The last time I ran I got this picture and suddenly Penny disappeared and "ran" up in the sky and I got some tears in my eyes, but than I thought it was a good thing because it meant her soul is still with me up there That has really helpt me, thinking her soul is still a live and always with me.
Gunilla, Wilbur, Bellis and angel Penny
Hi Bonnie
Many hugs for you today!
Though Polly is no longer physically with you, the many memories you have of her and the ways you choose to honour her memory surely reinforce the important bond you have with her.
Polly is with you...in your thoughts, your memories and she has given you the strength to remain in touch and support many members of this tripawd community.
Linda and Tucker
Bonnie,
None of what you wrote is weird or "too much information". Not to any of us. We all understand. Like you, Claudia, Jerry's family, Gunilla, and I'm sure many others, I have/do some things that help me feel close to Willow, even after almost year. I gave away some of Willow's things to the rescue where I got both her and Seven, and I kept some things that weren't too "feminine" for Seven to use, but I kept Willow's fuzzy pink blanket for me. It was her favorite, she used to roll herself up inside it and peek out at me. It's close by when I need to "warm up" and feel her love. I also have a coffee mug that has photos of her printed on it. I feel silly admitting it, but I kiss her pictures every time I use it. It's kind of funny, too, because once, right after I adopted her, she stole a "lick" of my coffee (that's a story for another time ;-). ) so having her on my coffee mug is extra special now.
Thank you, Bonnie, and everyone else for sharing your "rituals". It makes everyone feel better!
With love,
Carol
Oh Bonnie, I too know how you feel My Jake's been gone a month and a half, and I still cry. I cried on my way into work this morning and I'm teary eyed now. I placed Jakes urn on a shelf in our living room so he could be with us (his favorite place). I put his collar and his bandana around the urn. I put his two stuffed toys and his tug-a-war rope right next to him. I have a tuft of hair and a paw print the vet gave us there as well. When I feel sad, I kiss my hand reach up and place it on the urn. It always seems to bring me a little bit of peace. This is probably the one place I can say that "out loud" and not have anyone think I'm crazy. Thank you all for that.
I also have a memory garden. I have two kitties (as well as many fish and hermit crabs 
) buried there. When the weather warms up, I'm going to place something special for Jake there as well. Celebrating their memory not only shows just how much they were loved, but it helps our hearts as well.
Polly went to the rainbow bridge shortly after Jake. I bet he was right there waggin' his tail just waiting to welcome a fellow Tripawd (he did love the ladies). I'm sure they are looking down at us wondering what we are so sad for, just like when they were here with us.
Mom to Tripawd Angels Jake (2001-2014) and Rosco (2012-2015) and Tripawd Tanner. “Whatever happens tomorrow, we had today; and I'll always remember it”
Oh my gosh, SEEEEEE we're all so similar in the ways we cope! My 95 year old auntie always tells me - 'say things out loud. Tell other people what you're thinking because when you speak or write your thoughts they always sound different and that lets you see things from a different perspective'. It sounds ridiculous but it's sooo true! My point, it's easy to think we're unique in our rituals or coping mechanisms but now that we've shared we can see we're actually very similar! Gotta love advice from a old but wise lady! (By the way, my awesome auntie is the one who potty trained Jersey Girl! Jersey came into my life unexpectedly and I couldn't take off from work. Auntie flew in from Fort Worth and stayed in my apartment with me for 2 weeks to help me train my 7 week old pup! She's so awesome!)
Bonnie - I LOVE that you sleep with the fleece you made Polly! I do something like that too!! I sleep with a feather pillow of Jersey's. In fact, I didn't wash the pillow case for a whole month after she passed. I finally did it 1 day after her first month angelversary and then only because it was time. I mean how gross would it be if I didn't at this point, right? Lol. Every now and then Gregg grabs the pillow from me and says 'I want to sleep on Jersey's pillow tonight'.
Like you, I also have a zip lock of Jersey's fur! We're SO similar!! I can't take credit for the idea, my friend who lost her cat suggested it. So, what are you going to do with it? I was planning to release little clumps of it into the air at places Jersey either liked or would like (the dog park, dog beaches, grandpa's pool, etc.). I've been carrying some of the fur around in my purse so it would be handy when I came upon those places, but so far I can't get myself to release it. Not having the fur anymore makes me too sad. Now really, how crazy is that? What about you, what are you going to do with it?
Rene & Jim - Why does that NOT surprise me! Lol
Gunillas - I LOVE your running ritual with Penny. Love love LOVE IT!!! I agree with you about the point at which she runs up into the sky. I think of it as her watching over you always and then swooping down to intervene when you need her. How awesome is that? She truly has not died!!
Claudia & Angel Jersey Girl
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