Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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We all have that "day"... that special day that we say goodbye to our four legged soul mates... our best friends... our rocks... our heros...
And we grive... we grieve hard... and we do things that others may think are weird or sily... or not normal. lol It doesn;t bother me, nor has it bothered you either. For how many of us have built a shrine, built a garden, or created an artpiece full of memories that we look at over and over again. Some may say that we are just extending our pain... but know what? I actually feel sorry for those that just don't understand... because.. they have never experienced what we have had.. or will have with our future four legged loves of our lives!
And everyday we cope... a month later, 6 months later, even two years later... we still cope. Today has been two years for my Franklin.. and I can remember each moment vividly today as it happened 24 months ago... and 5pm today will be the hardest... as that is when he slipped away and ran fast.. ran so fast through that beautiful meadow.. with the fresh dew covered grass... right for that bucket of pig ears. He probably stopped a moment to wonder why I didn't follow him.. but then he knew... and grabbed a pig ear and trotted off to the freshest, coolest part of that grass to lie down and start chewing.
And... today I am still coping. I have shed a few tears as I have typed this... and will shed a few more throughout the day I am sure... Heck.. I know when I get home I will be holding Franklin to my heart for a while...
Franklin sits on my dresser along with my sweetie's dog Bud, and our Diesel. I think just having them there helps me cope. I thought about puting him in the backyard in his favourite spot, but... if we move.. then what? I am not ready for that. I have thought about getting a stone and having is drilled and putting them all in it.. It could sit in the garden... then I could take the stone with me.. Heck.. I'm still thinking..
I'm a little sad that I never did this for my other doggers, Brownie and Brandy... but I know they are at the Bridge... havin a good time.
so... no stone stands over where Franklin lies. It is in my heart that his life is engraved.
I miss you buddy boy.....
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!
Thinking of you today Chris. Tears are rolling down my face because I know what you are saying. I remember this day too. I just can't believe 2 years already. I know what that means too for Karma & I. I wish that when I was growing up we had the opportunity to have our dogs cremated we just didn't have the money. I feel guilty that I have Doc, Shadow & Sassy but not my other babies. I know they will greet me. Until we meet our furbabies again. Each one of them teach us something new.
Thinking of you
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."
OMG ... Christine... beautiful ... just beautiful! You eloquently expressed what we all feel and continue to feel when we continue our earthly journey without our loved ones.... I am the same w/Shelby... she's on top of my bookcase .. the top girl that she always was. I want her with me ALWAYS... a part of her is in cannon beach, or and some will be here in on the LA beach but forever with me and forever in my heart ... every day.
Hugs and love ... I often remind people in pain that it is the price we pay (per your words)... we love hard so we grieve hard and there is no timeframe on that!
Alison with Spirit Shelby in her heart (and little jasper too)
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
Very, very sweet.
We celebrated Harmony's 6 month departure the 1st of this month.
Most days I'm good, but then there are the rough days. But then all I have to do is look into the eyes of our girls Melody and Meesha and there is joy.
Bless you. <3
Harmony became a Tripawd on 10/21/14 (MCT). She left us way too soon on 11/1/14.
"We miss you so much; our love, our heart, our Harmony."
- Pam, Ron and Melody, Meesha, Doublestuff and Mariah Carey
So touching....and the picture at the end...has me in tears as I can see our furbabies spirits standing there watching over us continuing on the road of life.
And I agree it is sad that everybody doesn't experience the magnitude of love and devotion than we have had the honor of experiencing with our precious Tripawds. Could you imagine the kind of world it would be if everybody had and understood this level of love? But we have been blessed to experience this with our fur kids and for that I am thankful.
I'll be keeping you in my thoughts during this rough time.
Hugs
Sahana and her Angel Leland
November 17, 2009 - June 30, 2014
May you finally be healthy and running free at the Rainbow Bridge. Until we meet again my sweet boy!
Beautiful.
Peace...
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Very sweet and beautiful, Christine........the never-ending grief, we all know it so well......Thinking of you and handsome Franklin tonight....
Love,
Bonnie, Angel Polly, and new crew
Christine,
You have a real gift for words, if you are not a writer you should be. I agree, loving a dog, cat or any animal full throttle like we do makes us more human and I certainly wouldn't trade the heartache of losing them with not loving them at all. God bless sweet Franklin.
Penny, Blink, Hank and Maggie Up Above
Sweet Christine....as you can see by all the heartfelt responses, your words resonate with us all. Your ability to articulate words from that deep place in our hearts that holds our dogs and cats forever is beautiful, just beautiful.
All of the post above are from those of us who are here, even though our best friends have transitioned on. We are here to carry on their legacy. We are here because Franklin, Lela d, Sassy, Polly, Alison, Maggie, Harmony, Ty, Jake, Libby, Marshall, Happy Hannah and Jerry (and ALL) gave of this gift of friendships from some of THE most enlightened and loving souls in the Universe.
Thank you Franklin......you are the gift that keeps on giving through Christine. For me, one of the many ways you have made a difference in my life is the way you have communicated through your mom how great it is at the Bridge! It gives me comfort hping and wanting it to be true. You make it true.
And just so you'll know how you continue to reach out and touch lives....a friend of mine just lost her son (48) after a very, very brief liver failjre. A few years prior to that his beloved dog (Bach) ransitioned. I wrote a letter to him /from Bach) paraphrasing The Rainbow Bridge and personalized it by interjecting Bach and some of his individual nuances that he would be doing at the Bridge. I came to this site and searched some of your delightfully vivid ppsts you have made about the Bridge and sprinkled them throughout the letter.
She read him the letter several times that evening....he transitioned peacefully the following morning...and I know he and Bach walked together over that Bridge.never to be separated ag a in.
This just happened two days ago and I was going to email you to tell you the imlact you and Franklin have...even on strangers you have never met. But there is no better place or time to let you know that than right here today.
Wrapping you in Franklin's eternal love
Sally and Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle.
Her son was fading in and out with some restlessness as he was, in my opinion, preparing for transition. His mom read the letter
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!
Christine, what a beautiful picture! What a beautiful Tribute to Franklin. I just love seeing his banner pop up, he makes my day! It is just so hard to explain these feelings to people who don't get it. We get it! I also get the indecision about his remains. I struggle a lot with my old boy Chandler. I have always buried my pets until Ty. Because of his size, my husband suggested cremation. I had a real hard time with that. I am glad now that I can take him with me if I move, but still don't know what I will do when Chan's time comes. Would probably break my heart to let him when I go, but it is just so hard, well you know. I have thought a few times about having someone go get my old dog Muffin and move her here, but can you imagine the faces of the new home owners if I were to go ask if I could dig up my dog's remains. Oye! That was her yard where she ran and played and chased her beloved tennis ball, so she shall remain there. I keep scrolling back up to look at that picture again, just brings tears to my eyes. Sally, that letter, what a gift. Words of comfort to a transitioning soul. Thinking of you Christine, Lori, Ty & the gang
TY GUY, Best Black Lab ever! Diagnosed and had amp in January, 2014. Kicked MRSA's butt. Earned his angel wings on April 16, 2014. Run Free my boy and don't forget a shoe. Ty is a proud member of the " April Angels". Ty sent us Daryl, a Tripawd rescue in Sept. of 2016. Daryl is 5 +or -. We are also Pawrents to Chandler, a Border Collie mix who is 15 and 1/2, Lucy, a Corgi who is 7, 2 minis, 2 horses, and a feisty cat named Zoe. Zoe had a non skeletal Osteosarcoma removed in July 2015. No Chemo, she was at least 16. She is going strong although she is now completely blind. She is now close to 20 and her hobbies are eating and sleeping in front of her personal heater.
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