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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I've dreaded this day, one year; Harmony's amputation and the beginning of a short 11 day journey.
I don't give a whole lot of advice to newbies who need answers simply because Harmony's journey was so brief. What I took away from our travels was emotional. She didn't live long enough to find out if the amputation took her pain away. She never had a chance to emerge from her prescriptive fog. Covered in staples from head to tail, I briefly glanced through her ashes to see if they would glitter like new pennies. Bitter-sweet of all are the images of the hub-a-dub cuddled up with her in the floor. The love could not have been any deeper than what I witnessed and felt for those short 11 days.
My take away? Life lessons. Thank Dog for life lessons. Thank Dog for Tripawds. Thank Dog for those 11 days.
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
As a new kid here I want you to know your journey matters. In one of your first postings to me I noticed in your signature how short a time you had with beautiful Harmony. At that particular time I wasn't ready to know why and how it was so short. About two weeks ago I went back to your first post to read how and why. I cried through your entire journey and learned how to Be More Dog . You handled the entire journey with such love and dignity and let go with such grace. You are such a strong lady and I admire you so much. You help us all more than you think! I thank you for all you do here. Know your Harmony is at the bridge waiting to see you again and waiting to say "thanks Mom & Dad for trying". Of course that's in between eating steak and ice cream!
Linda, Bob & Max
Pam... you have been in my heart and my soul since your first post. I think, like others, we all fell in love with you, Harmony, and the 'hub-a-dub'... your way with words, even though your journey seems short, always soothes and heals.
We all grieve with you as you embark on these memories of those 11 days ... they are the hardest days and the ones that are the biggest bridge to cross but lean on us... we will all be there for you! And send you hugs and love!
I still remember when my travels took me up north and I saw a street sign that said "Harmony"... I knew then that the bond we shared was real and true!!!
Hugs and love to you, Melody, Meesha, the Hub-a-Dub and our sweet, sweet Angel Harmony! May she send you pennies and sparkles galore!!!
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
Pam,
No matter how many years the Tripawds community has been around, it breaks our heart to pieces when a member goes through the kind of grief that you and the hub-a-d endured. How we wish that every new Tripawd could go on to live a pain-free, happy life forever and ever. It's so not right when things don't go as planned!
The fact that you return to the community and offer your charm and humor, despite that kind of experience you had with amputation, is proof that Harmony filled your soul with everlasting love and light that will go on to touch others. What an amazing pup. You are a big part of us here and we are honored that you stand by this community as strong as ever. Thank you. We send lots of love your way, now and always.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Dear Sweet Pam,
I've been waiting to get in a "guided space" where the words will come and, somehow, they will feel "right". That has yet to happen.
I think one reason is because Linda, Alison and Rene have already said it so beautifully and with such heartfelt intention behind each word.
As Rene said, Harmony filled your Soul with everlasting love and light that, through you, will continue to touch others. Linda just validated that.
You have stayed on this site and contributed time after time with grace, with courage and with humor, and a gentle dose of reality. I've questioned myself many times if I would have been able to stay here under the same circumstances and give so selflessly as you have...and I don't think I could.
It IS important to balance all the cheerleading we do supporting amputation as a way to relieve pain with the reality that it doesn't always turn out well. Some never make it past surgery. Some, like Harmony, and there was another dog here named Sadie, never make it past recovery. You, as far as I know, are the only member who has been able to stay on the site after tragedies like yours. Absolutely no right or wrong...just whatever works for each individual. But for you to stay...for you to offer such incredible support and insight for others...we are sooooo privileged, so very, very privileged.
Im so glad you are here. It keeps Harmony here with us too. As Alison said, we all fell in love with her...with her humans too!
So many of us were jere when you started your journey with Harmony. You did your research, your prepared yourself and your home as best you could for her recovery. When she seemed to be having a "slow recovery", we all assured you this was "normal" with some dogs. But Harmony had hurdles that couldn't be forseen. But you TRIED!!! I know I've said this before, but to not have tried would have left you wondering and second guessing forever..
But Harmony made sure she showed you moments of contentment and joy...even through the drugs! She and hub-a-dub got to spend more time snuggling together. She even threw in some tail wags here and there too!
As Rene has said, those last days are just a blink of an eye compared to the thousands of delightful days filled with joy and love that Harmony had with you. And Harmony would not have had it any other way! She was knew how loved she was and that's all that mattered to her!
And I agree with Linda, Harmony is appreciative of you trying. She knew you would. And she also is telling everybody at the Bridge what a great rime she had with you and hub a dub! She's bragging about hownyou are still staying on the site to help others as a way to honor her. She's sooo proud!!! And so are we!
We surround you with our love, with our appreciation and our admiration...and Harmony's eternal grace.
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle too!
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!
I knew the dates were coming, but in the back of my mind I also knew I wasn’t ready to meet these milestones of Harmony’s absence.
Our hearts will be heavy but I'm totally aware that I would not have done anything different. “Coulda-woulda-shoulda.” Those things didn’t matter then no more than they matter now. As I said before life lessons to pass on to others who meet the same challenges and feel they have no one or nowhere to go. It’s easy to feel abandoned when it seems the world is crumbling.
When my father passed in March, he was able to tell us his needs, his pain, his sorrow. He could tell us to not resuscitate. If he needed pain meds, all he had to do was ask. He was very much in control of his journey to the end. And although we might not have agreed with the course he took, it was his health, his dignity, his right.
When it’s a fur-baby who can’t speak, who is completely dependent upon us, the pain hits a part of our hearts we didn’t know existed. It’s their well-being that keeps us up at night, that distracts us, that eats at the very core of our soul. To look into those furgiving eyes and see the reflection of ourselves giving anything and everything will burn in our hearts forever simply because we only wanted to know what to do next; how to stop the pain, the uncertainty . . . the suffering.
And then Dog has a way of presenting His reasons.
I’m positive Tripawds was the only thing that kept me from losing my everloving mind. It takes very special people to live this hardship day-in-and-day-out with every fur-baby and pawrent who joins the community. We get connected, we become attached, we laugh, we cry, we praise, we dance, we get frustrated, we get mad, and . . . we greive with every single loss.
Love you guys more than you'll ever know.
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
harmony said
I knew the dates were coming, but in the back of my mind I also knew I wasn’t ready to meet these milestones of Harmony’s absence.Our hearts will be heavy but I'm totally aware that I would not have done anything different. “Coulda-woulda-shoulda.” Those things didn’t matter then no more than they matter now. As I said before life lessons to pass on to others who meet the same challenges and feel they have no one or nowhere to go. It’s easy to feel abandoned when it seems the world is crumbling.
When my father passed in March, he was able to tell us his needs, his pain, his sorrow. He could tell us to not resuscitate. If he needed pain meds, all he had to do was ask. He was very much in control of his journey to the end. And although we might not have agreed with the course he took, it was his health, his dignity, his right.
When it’s a fur-baby who can’t speak, who is completely dependent upon us, the pain hits a part of our hearts we didn’t know existed. It’s their well-being that keeps us up at night, that distracts us, that eats at the very core of our soul. To look into those furgiving eyes and see the reflection of ourselves giving anything and everything will burn in our hearts forever simply because we only wanted to know what to do next; how to stop the pain, the uncertainty . . . the suffering.
And then Dog has a way of presenting His reasons.
I’m positive Tripawds was the only thing that kept me from losing my everloving mind. It takes very special people to live this hardship day-in-and-day-out with every fur-baby and pawrent who joins the community. We get connected, we become attached, we laugh, we cry, we praise, we dance, we get frustrated, we get mad, and . . . we greive with every single loss.
Love you guys more than you'll ever know.
Agree ...the loss of a parent or human is incredibly painful but sometimes they are in control of their destiny. In our fur-babies, that is a heavy burden to shoulder - especially with those eyes. I will always maintain that losing Shelby was the 2nd most painful loss of my life but equal in pain, grief and recovery that came with losing my father when I was young.
And I would also agree that this forum is the ONLY thing that kept me from completely LOSING MY SH!T in the real world. Because I could be weak, vulnerable, scared, distant, happy, joking ... this was the only place I had in my life that I didn't ONCE feel judged. I don't know that I have ever articulated that before but it is true and some days ... even now ... I feel that way. This community wrapped me in their arms and helped me through the darkest days and when I thought ... I can't be there anymore I felt that little paw on my shoulder saying, yes, you can and you can give back. I am forever grateful for many of the friends I might never meet.
Much love in the days to come ....
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
Pam, my heart goes out you and your hubby. Roscoe passed away 3 days after being diagnosed with cancer, and I felt sort of cheated that he never had a fighting chance. Just a chance to do whatever we could was all I wanted, even if the fight was futile....but, he had other plans. Harmony had other plans too. I'm a numbers person in many ways, but the number 11 is considered an angelic number and often the number 11 represents a sign from the afterlife often in the same way as pennies do. When you said, "The love could not have been any deeper than what I witnessed and felt for those short 11 days", I got chills. Harmony's amputation was never in vain, it was part of her plan and there was meaning in it. Maybe she knew that you needed this place, just like how all of our babies brought us here, and she led you right to it. Dogs have a way of teaching us life lessons, I think it's their only job really. They seek out those that know how to listen and they teach us so much just by being what they're best at, being a dog!!
Happy Ampuversary Harmony and Happy Almost one year Angelversary, run free in heaven pretty girl! (send your mom and dad some pennies).
HUGS
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”
Pam,
I'll be keeping you and your dear hubby in my thoughts as you reach these hard milestones after Harmony's passing.
You're definitely another one of the special angels in this community. You bring smiles to our faces and laughter in our hearts with your "special sayings" and the tales of Melody and Meesha!
Thank you for continuing to be here!
Hugs
Sahana and her Angel Leland and Lucian too
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!
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