Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
Tripawds is your home to learn how to care for a three legged dog or cat, with answers about dog leg amputation, and cat amputation recovery from many years of member experiences.
Join The Tripawds Community
Learn how to help three legged dogs and cats in the forums below. Browse and search as a guest or register for free and get full member benefits:
Instant post approval.
Private messages to members.
Subscribe to favorite topics.
Live Chat and much more!
Register
Log In
Members
Add Topic
Offline
It's one year today that my boy left. I cant say anymore "at least this time last year Porthos was still alive" he really is gone now.
Its been hard, I miss him so much.
I dont post much these days, its hard ya know?, but I do come to read the forums, It makes me feel a little closer to him.
I have never seen so many rainbows as I have in the past year, sometimes daily! maybe I look up more now.
We have been having a giant sulfur crested cockatoo coming to our deck each day, he is really boisterous and funny just like Porthos was! he is even a little food possessive like Porthos! maybe its him come back as a beautiful bird?.
Amanda & Angel Porthos x
Angel Porthos, Pyrenean Mastiff, 7 years old Os front right leg, DX 18 May 2012, Amputation 14 June 2012, Hip Dysplasia, Two TPLO surgeries. Is now somewhere over the rainbow, 21 November 2013.
Amanda, I am so sorry. This has been a rough year. Maybe you are right about Porthos or maybe he sent that bird to remind you of him either way its great to have good memories. I read a lot now that Sassy is gone but will post on those that catch my heart to do so. I am thinking about you today.
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."
And his name is Porthos
And he sounds more like Bing Crosby than Scooby Do
And he loves going to the garden
And he was loved so hard and so completely, that he was able to take all that love with him as he left his earth clothes And he used all that love to make beautiful rainbows so his beloved soul mate would see them and know that all is well in Porthos world.
I just read through every post you started so I could know more about your hero...our hero. I laughed, I cried, but most of all I was touched by the bnd you two have. NOTHING can ever break that bond. You were devoted to each other. It was so pure and so unconditional .
Porthos is STILL living a life of meaning and is STILL inspiring us with his journey! He lived his life to the fullest That big dog housed a HUGE heart and gave just as mich love as he got! HUGE HEART!!!
Thank you for your post today and thank you for allowing us the privilege of sharng your journey. And thank you for being here. I think ...no...I kow...Porthos is so proud of you and so grateful for all you did for him!
Surrouding you with the grace of Majestic Porthos!
Sally and Hapoy 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!
Amanda I'm so sorry. Thank you so much for all of your help with us as we went through our battle. Thinking of you and porthos.
Lori and Angel St chuck
Amanda, my heart goes out to you, if I could give you a big hug right now I would. These milestones are just hard, and difficult to bear. They hit you all at once and it's like you're grieving all over again just like the first day. I'm so sorry, I wish I could help make it easier.
You know if it's any comfort, I have read/heard about many stories in which loved ones spirits come back as birds who leave gentle messages, it's not unusual at all to receive signs like that. I would say that beautiful cockatoo is definitely your gentle giant Porthos. Say hello to him next time you see him and let him know the Tripawds Nation loves him very much.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Amanda, I know there are no words that can ease the pain of loosing your heart dog, but know that we are all thinking of you and sending you love and support as you remember gorgeous Porthos and the the fact that he made your soul feel its worth. I have such gratitude for all these canine Heros and the lessons they teach us about life. I for one believe we will see them again one day.
As for the cockatoo.....my husbands father always loved blue herons and when he passed, a blue heron came to live at the duck pond in our neighborhood and my husband always said it was dad keeping an eye on us. Then when we moved, we were blown away when on our second day in our new house a blue heron came to visit us. There is a creek running along side our property and that blue heron visits us every week. And I can't help but notice when I watch that video of Porthos rolling around in the grass, all I can hear are birds singing and chirping all around him.
Patricia & Mighty Atlas
Yes, I just wanted to add a "ditto to what Jerry amd Atricia said about our feathered friends......no doubt in my mimd that Pothos is using another being from mature to make his presence known.....and same for Patricia's father-in-law. No, that's not just "happenstance.......that's nature's divine energy field at work on the highest ibration that is out of our realm of understanding...but here for all to see.
Love,
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!
Amanda I think it really does take about a year to really sink in that our fur babies are gone. Like you my first year was very hard. I had many days where life without Misty was just unbearable. It still is so very hard, but like many things we learn to live with this pain. Porthos was such a grand boy. He was very lucky to have you.
Misty's blog: http://misty.tripawds.com
Sister to Millie, 9 yr old choc. lab
Sister to Lola, 6 yr old choc. lab
Sister to Toby, 7 yr old rottie mix (officially my sons dog, but I'm still his mama!)
Sweetness to Fiona and Bill
Thank you all so much for your kind words. You made me cry, but in a good way!
Michelle, I am so sorry that Sassy is now at the bridge, I loved the photos of her, she looks like she is smiling! She had such a friendly face, I bet she gave the best cuddles!
Sally, what a special person you are! so kind of you to have read my posts on Porthos, thank you for doing that and for your kind words.
Lori, I still cant believe that Chuck is gone. Thank you for posting as I know Chucks passing is still very fresh. I miss Porthos' slobbering kisses too!
Jerry & Patricia, we had to leave Vanuatu five months after Porthos left us. It was gut wrenching leaving his grave behind, I dont know how I managed to get on the plane! I was so worried that his spirit would be left in the garden and he would be waiting at the gate for us to come home! I didnt know how his spirit would find us in Australia but it makes sense he would come back to me as a bird!
Mistysmom, I didn’t realise how hard the anniversary would be. I literally sat looking at the clock until 924am, that was the time Porthos left us. I still have dreams about him but he is always still sick. I don’t think I have moved on in my mind yet from his cancer.
My daughters would love a new dog, im not ready yet. My youngest would loooove an alpaca! but that’s for a whole other forum!.
Amanda & Angel Porthos x
Angel Porthos, Pyrenean Mastiff, 7 years old Os front right leg, DX 18 May 2012, Amputation 14 June 2012, Hip Dysplasia, Two TPLO surgeries. Is now somewhere over the rainbow, 21 November 2013.
Amanda, the fact tat Porthos is coming to you in your dreams is womderful! He's "trying to get through, butyour painis still too great. The "sickness" you sense is really a reflection that you still feel so sick aout your loss.
SOOOOOOO, Porthos send you that bird to get your attention!
Hmmmmmmmm.......something to think about
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!
Amanda,
I am so glad to hear from you - I've thought of you and wondered how you are doing. As I read your sentence about so many rainbows I was thinking "yes, rainbows and birds" and smirking to myself. Then, my heart skipped when I read the bird part of your post. After Merlin's passing (Zeus's littermate), I started seeing rainbows everywhere and then the afternoon that Zeus passed, I saw one of the most unique rainbows and posted about it here only to learn that it is called a Sundog (appropriate, huh?).
What I haven't mentioned to anyone is that, during Zeus's illness these two small bluebirds showed up at our house and would sit on the deck railing right outside the french doors - almost like they were looking in at us. I liked to think that it was Merlin and Spanky, our other two dogs already at the Bridge, and that they were watching over Zeusy. Okay, you're all gonna think I'm crazy, but I swear this is true: Very shortly after Zeus's passing a third bird joined the other two and they would constantly sit on our deck. Six months later, we moved from PA back to our home state of SC. Although Zeus was cremated and made this move with us, a tiny part of my brain worried that we were leaving those birds behind and it was too far for them to follow. A month after we moved, I looked out onto the terrace of our apartment, and there were three bluebirds sitting there. I cried for an hour. I haven't seen them since, but I guess they just needed to let me know that they are still with us.
I thought I was delusional, but reading all these posts today makes me think that maybe....
Please know that it is okay to be sad as long as you need to be sad. Peace will come. Until then, you know that we are all here for you and that we have very strong shoulders if you need a few to lean on, and our ears are always open if you need to talk.
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/
Lisa,
No, you're not crazy, just a very very wise and enlightened soul.
No doubt in my mind those bluebirds were letting you kow they were all three withyou and no amountmof "distance" can separate you. Lovely story. Zeus knew you would understand. Thank you for sharing.
Love and light
Sally and Happh 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!
Lisa, its good to hear from you too. I was thinking about you because I remembered that Porthos left not long after your Zeus.
Initially I found it really difficult to think of Porthos’s spirit being somewhere else. I was so attached to him and missed his physical presence so much. But I am more open now, maybe that’s something he taught me!
The Cockatoo comes back every day now, he is really funny! It would be nice to think that Porthos doesn’t have to worry about his legs anymore and is flying free as a bird.
So here’s to Sulphur Crested Cockatoos and Bluebirds!
Amanda & Angel Porthos x
Angel Porthos, Pyrenean Mastiff, 7 years old Os front right leg, DX 18 May 2012, Amputation 14 June 2012, Hip Dysplasia, Two TPLO surgeries. Is now somewhere over the rainbow, 21 November 2013.
Anniversaries are the hardest. They make you stop and think... and feel... and remember.
I felt Magnum's presence a number of times for the first 6 months and it was so reassuring but then nothing since. With all this talk of birds I'm reminded of a kookaburra visiting us sometime in the last 12 months. Can't remember when exactly, but haven't seen it since. It was so unusual that I took note but didn't draw a connection. Now you make me wonder...
Thank you for sharing.
Karen and Spirit Magnum
Magnum: 30th May 2002 to 5th May 2012. Lost her back left leg to osteosarcoma on 5th Sep 2011. Lung mets found on 20th Mar 2012 but it was bone mets in the hip that ended her brave battle. Magnum's motto - "Dream as if you'll live for ever, live as if you'll die today" (James Dean). Loyal, loving, courageous and spirited to the end. My beloved heart dog, see her memoirs from Rainbow Bridge ...... http://princess.....pawds.com/
I completely believe that the birds are a sign of Magnum and Porthos. To think of our loved ones spirits being carried by such gentle beings is such a beautiful thought.
I'd love to see a picture of the cockatoo if you can snap one in time Amanda.
Karen I looked up a kookaburra. What a gorgeous creature and what better one to carry the spirit of your beautiful girl?
"Kookaburras are best known for their unmistakable call, which sounds uncannily like loud, echoing human laughter."
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
2 Guest(s)
