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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And I forgot to give you the number....(804) 551 1799
I know today is worse than yesterday...and you didn't think that would be possible. And tomorrow will be worse than today...and you won't even believe that isnpossible. We are here with you every single day, every single moment.
Murphy has touched sooooo many lives. He truly has been legendary around here....and he will continue to be so. His earthly visit was all too brief, ut talk about making an impact...talk about livi g a lofe of meaning...talking about TRULY inspiring others...OMD! Murphy's presence here is magical, absolutely magical!
Yes Alison,Awful April just won't stop.
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 agree, I am starting to really dislike the month of April. Kathi, I just cannot get you off my mind today. I scrolled back over some of your last posts. What a great, amazing life Murphy had. Trips, green beans, Artichokes, Petco visits. What a wonderful life! I am sure he is at the bridge bragging about it right now. I know the sheer pain and emptiness must be overwhelming right now. The quickness of it all. The gift of releasing him before he became really bad, sheer selflessness, sheer strength! Murphy is so grateful right now for everything. I am all out of words again, just know I am holding you close in my thoughts and prayers. Lori, Ty and 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.
Dear Kathi,
My deepest sympathies to you and your family. The suddenness of this is makes this even more difficult to process. Murph was truly a remarkable boy. He will be deeply missed by all here.
We all know how difficult this time is. Know that everyone here is extending their arms out for you and your family.
Esther and her Angel Snoop
Seriously? My throat just latched up and I just can't believe it that I had to re read your post 3 times...
My heart breaks with you.... such a shock to all of us here, as everyone has said above...
But one thing that does pop into my head and heart about this is.... letting that leash go while Murph was still Murph.... beautiful! Extremely unselfish and overpowering with love!!! No regrets!! Absollutely none! You yourself know your Murphy.. and like Lori said.. the strength that you had to do that is.... well.... astounding!! Not many would...
We understand that you may be away for a while.. but you know what? We will be here when you get back... whenever that is. It's hard to come back here at times... even almost two years later for me.. it's still hard. Yet.. it's part of the healing process... and it helps to heal when you are with those crazy canine and feline pawrents who understand, don't judge, and are great listeners. Heck.. we will even scream at the top of our lungs with you if you want!
Take your time.. and know that we are all group cyber-hugging you guys right now...
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!
I am so very sorry. This is such a shock. I have been sitting here staring at my screen trying to process this sad news. There are just no words.
Godspeed Murphy.
Thinking of you all,
Marla, Daisy & Biscuit
My Two Tripawds...Biscuit 
and Spirit Daisy 
Oh Kathi, I'm so sorry and shocked! Murph and Libby are calendar mates and now they are truly together. I cried when you said you let him go while he was still Murphy because that's what we did with Libby.
My heart breaks for you. There's just no way to avoid the pain but you will get through it. Lean on everybody here and take as long as you need to grieve. I'm sending you love and hugs. You are in my prayers.
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
Kathi,
I am so sorry. I just can't believe this. I hate this freaking disease. Murphy was a great dog and shared many things with us about his recovery as a Tripawd. I am in utter disbelief. Run Free Murphy
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."
Kathi,
also appalled with the news of Murphy's unexpected passing. Can't believe "it" caught Murphy, and took him so suddenly. Please accept my condolences.
hugs from Daniela & Johnnie
Our awesome Golden Boy was diagnosed for OSA in April 2014 in the proximal humerus, front-leg amp on 05/20/2014. Finished chemo (Carbo6) on 07/10/2014. Ongoing treatment: acupuncture + K-9 Immunity Plus ( 3chews) and home-cooked no-grain diet. Stopped Apocaps because of liver issues. Liver issues: controlling altered enzymes with SAM-e and Milk Thistle. October 17: started having seizures. Taking fenobarbital for seizures. April 18: started prednisone.
Dear Kathi,
I, like everyone else here, was shocked to hear about your sudden loss of Murphy.
I can't imagine what you are going through but know that you and your family are in the thoughts and prayers of all of us here.
Hugs
Linda and Tucker
Kathi, I too am in total shock. I saw your post on FB and I just couldn't believe it. It's just not fair. Murphy had a great life and he was surrounded by love at home, and here. Most of us never met Murphy but we loved him, he was such a fighter!! Sending you lots of hugs. Run free Murphy, the rainbow bridge just got a little bit brighter.
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 kathi. .i am so very very sorry. Please know you are in our prayers. Many hugs to you 
Kathi, my deepest sympathy to you and your family. I'm just sitting here shocked. Im so sorry for your loss, Murphy was simply the best. Every time I see a green bean I think of Murphy and Gus. Big hugs to you.
Patricia & Mighty Atlas
I sat down to write several times today, but I couldn't make it through reading all of your notes before I could no longer see the screen. Evenings are actually best around here because, even though we know in our heads that Murphy isn't here, he always put himself to bed after supper, so we are used to not having him in the room with us then. We would get him up to go outside before we went to bed, but he was happy in his kennel in the dark with no TV going.
The mornings, however, are a totally different story. For the entire 38 years of our married life we have had a furry, cold-nosed child (or two or three) who would insist that we start the day. Friday was the first day in all that time that we didn't. We see him everywhere. We hear him bumping around. But the sound of the turbotail pounding against the wall has been silenced. It breaks our hearts over and over again when we expect him in his regular places and he isn't there. Nobody wants to go out in the rain to bring in the paper. Nobody wants to dig down to find the gopher holes. Nobody wants to chase the neighbor's cat out of the flower bed. It just isn't right. I don't even think I will plant beans this year.
I know that there will come a day when Gus and Murphy will send us another furbaby to love, but for the time being we are going to get through the summer before we even think of it. We had so many things planned to do with the guys, so many camping trips left. Right now I can't consider doing them with someone else. We are going to do a few things that we have talked about over the years, but didn't do because we couldn't take our "kids" along. Our lives really did revolve around them, and it will be hard to do things differently, but we need to do a few things for ourselves before we can start over with a new pup.
I do need to thank all of you for your support and sympathy. I never thought it would be us in this position...at least not this soon. Please know that you all mean the world to us and we don't know what we would have done without you for the past two plus years and especially now.
Kathi and Garry
Murphy is a five year old Lab/Chessie cross. He was hit by a car on 10/29/12 and became a Tripawd on 11/24/12. On 2/5/13, he had a total hip replacement on his remaining back leg. He has absolutely no idea that he has only three legs!
UPDATE: Murphy lived his life to the fullest, right up until an aggressive bone lesion took him across the Rainbow Bridge on April 9, 2015 and he gained his membership in the April Angels. Run free, my love. You deserve it!
Aw . . . bless your hearts. I don't think there's a soul here who wouldn't agree with every single thing you've mentioned. You will heal in the amount of time you need. And fur-babies will come back into your life when you least expect it. But I totally get the whole doing things that you couldn't do because of them. It's unfortunate there aren't more places that are pet-friendly.
For me, after Harmony left us, I couldn't look at another pooch for a while. Well, at least that's what I originally thought, until I saw a rescued Lapitor who I knew in my heart needed us. Turns out, we needed her too.
Sending you healing hugs,
pam
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
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