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.
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Alison,
I'm so very sorry for your loss. Shelby was a beautiful, strong girl who loved you so much, and you were such an amazing mom to her.
You will always be Shelby's mom, and she will always be in your heart and your memories.
With love,
Carol
Run free sweet Shelby, you are loved and will be missed. Sending you strength,
Mandy and maverick
Maverick is a wonderful miniature australian shepard born with a malformation of the front right radius/ulna, amputation performed on 11/4/13 at 6 months old. Follow his story at mavericksjourney.tripawds.com.
Oh Alison,
I wish I could reach out and give you a hug right now.
Truly Shelby is at peace but I know your heart is aching because the loss is so great.
Shelby crossed the rainbow bridge the way she lived.....with dignity, peace and surrounded by your love.
Linda and Tucker
Alison I'm so sorry to hear about your sweet Shelby. I wasn't caught up on the past few days so when I saw your post I went back and read your other thread. I'm crying with you. It is so hard when they leave us. Shelby was a lucky girl to have you for so long to love her. If love could have saved her she would have lived forever. You are an amazing Mother to her. My heart breaks for you. Run free Shelby sand on your paws and wind in your fur.
Hugs,
Jessica
thank you all for you for your kind words and compassion. Oh how it warms my heart. And Bonnie - thank you for the poem. That was so soothing and kind and definitely true.
The vet was kind enough to let me stay in a room all day with her but she was basically gone ... she was fully alive but she wasn't living. She wasn't suffering (they assured me of that) and that was why they allowed us to make our transition so peacefully.
There was a service that came out to meet us at the beach to administer the medication to set Shelby's soul free... my best friend was with me and she helped hold my baby girl in her arms. It was pretty quick.
I am just now home .. for the first time in over 24 hours ... all around, I "smell", "see", "feel" Shelby ... I almost don't want to wash my clothes from yesterday since they are soaked with Shelby's scent. I want to snuggle up with her toys.
I am going out again tonight to be at another friend's house ... no one wants me alone. And I agree. I am off work for the week (but might go in to the event tomorrow as it's been "highly" encouraged that I make an appearance). Otherwise, I have the rest of the week/weekend to process my grief and try and stop crying.
I've been talking to Shelby all day ... asking for her to share her strength with me and to help me be strong. I definitely think I am in shock ... because I just feel numb. I will go where people tell me to go but I can't make any decisions. When people ask what they can do to help, I don't have the answers ... my world is shattered ... thank you for listening, for grieving and for loving us both.
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'm glad you wrote, it's good to know your friends are taking care of you. Your feelings are all so normal. Yes, Shelby is everywhere. She is not gone, she is always by your side.
You may want to consider taking some of her belongings and putting them in one of those reusable Space Pak vacuum bags. Some day in the future, you can open it up and inhale Shelby's sweet delicious scent. We've done that and it's such a bittersweet yet comforting moment to open those bags occasionally.
{{{{hugs}}}}
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Alison, I'm glad you will be with friends. The silence is too much. I can sooo relate to not wanting to wash your clothes. Libby's fur is still on the front seat of my car (she always had to ride shotgun) I can't bear to vacuum it off yet. I feel like I'm trying to "erase" her if I do. I know it's silly but that's how it is for now. Be numb. Cry. Snuggle with her things. You do whatever it takes to help get you through. Hugs to you.
Amy & Spirit 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
I am so, so, sorry to hear of Shelby's passing.
I know this is of little consolation now, but having those last moments in a special place means so much. It is a wonderful gift--although hard right now. Hugs to you.
"Let us think the unthinkable, let us do the undoable, let us prepare to grapple with the ineffable itself, and see if we may not eff it after all."
-Douglas Adams, Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency
"May I recommend serenity to you? A life that is burdened with expectations is a heavy life. Its fruit is sorrow and disappointment. Learn to be one with the joy of the moment."
-Douglas Adams, The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul
What a beautiful way to allow Shelby to cross to the rainbow bridge. You are truly an amazing person to give her so much. My heart breaks with yours. I'm so sorry. Sending you all the strength you need in the coming hours, days, weeks...
Love and prayers
Cody and Family
Cody is our 7 year old Australian Heeler mix boy. Diagnosed on 2/20/14 and became a tripawd 2/21/14! We chose a homeopathic approach and he is being treated by Dr. Loops our of NC.
I am so so sorry to hear of your loss. From what I've read, Shelby was your own personal angel on earth, and now she just has a bird's eye view to keep an even better eye on you. I hope that you feel all the love and prayers that are coming your way. Hugs hugs hugs!
Oh Alison... I'm so sorry for your loss and all that you're going through. You gave Shelby everything she needed to know that she was loved and cared for exquisitely.
Take comfort in the amazing life you gave your wonderful girl. And I think there is definitely a beach on the other side of that bridge.
Deb and Angel Lexie* Diagnosed at age 13. Tried radiation first; wish we had amputated upon diagnosis (even with lung mets). Joined Club Tripawd April 2014 & Lexie loved life on 3 legs! Advice: Start physical therapy as soon as your vet clears it, especially hydrotherapy if available :-) See Lexie pics here.
Dear Alison,
I am so sorry for your loss of Shelby. We all know how difficult a time this is, but you were able to send her off to rainbow bridge in the way you wanted for both of you, how fortunate to have been able to do so. The loss of one of our pack is difficult enough, but with this terrible disease we many times feel very helpless and robed. You didn't allow that to be for you both. You were strong loving and a fighter for your girl, and she was for you.
We take and keep the love with us, that never leaves.
In our thoughts
Esther and her Snoop
Alison - her send off was beautiful. Beautiful. A full, loving, happy life and a sweet, loving end. She was lucky!
Thinking about you...
~ Katy & Jackson
ACL tear in right hind leg 12/5/12 and scheduled ACL repair surgery 12/21/12. Pre-op xrays revealed osteosarcoma. Amputation 12/28/12. Chemo (carboplatin) started Jan 10, 2013 and ended on April 5, for a total of 5 doses. He handled carbo like a champ! No side effects. We started metronomic therapy at his third chemo and have been also doing some holistic treatments. He's a lively, playful 10 year old huskie-boarder collie and a very proud member of the Winter Warriors! Our love. Our funny little guy!
Beautiful.... absolutely beautiful... and lucky you were to be able to do that....
Many of us don't have that opportunity for such a beautiful send off... and you are so blessed to be able to. So very blessed.
I understand the craziness that we get when we let that leash go... we do things that some people may think we are weird... talking for our furkids when they are not there.. smelling their beds and blankets.. heck I did it. Still do. And that is ok.. cause it is part of the healing process for us. Other's don't understand it.. and that's sad in a way. It's sad because they have never experienced that love and bond that we have had and will have. What a shame, makes you feel sorry for them.
And I won't lie to you.. the hurt continues for quite a while... and that's okay too. It's okay because if it didn't, then that would mean that we didn't care that much. Besides.. it's hard to forget something that gave us so much to remember!
Hugs
Christine... with Franklin in her heart♥
Franklin, he was the Happiest Dog on Three Legs! Diagnosed 09/26/2012 with Osteosarcoma, amputated 12/4/2012. Had a wonderful 5 1/2 months painfree until he ran for the Bridge on 5/15/2013. Always in my heart, and always a guardian angel of my pack... You can follow his Tripawd Adventures, before and after, in my blog, Frank'n'Farter!
Sweet Alison, I'm just letting you kow...over ad over again...we are all thiking about you these last several days...morning, non and night..and will forever. Our thoughts will be of more happier times soon, bt for now our hearts break with you. Stay here withus...you don't have to write...just keep staying here with us. We love you and Shelby so.
Well, there is one thing yo do need to write when you can...and that's when Shelby first makes her presence known to you, o,ay? She's there withnyo for sjre, but right now with such grief, you may not be avle to feel her yet.
Wish, thinki g of yoj could heal...it just doesn't work that way though.
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!
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