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'm so hoppy you have Nori in your life right now, it must feel so nice to have a pup around and know that you are helping her with a ruff time. She couldn't ask for a better nurse! I'll check out your post on her in a bit, but for now, I just want you to know that we think of Griffin all the time and cherish the months he took us on his romps around NYC and into the country. He was one very special pup, and will never be forgotten. Can't believe it's been a year since that time he walked his route. Wow.
Thanks for all you do to make the world brighter, Stacy! It's nice to know you feel lighter and easier in this new normal. And many thanks for your continued support of the community. We are wiser and stronger because of what you and Griffin (and now Nori I'm sure) have brought to all of us.
((((hugs))))
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hi Stacy. I think of you and Griffin a lot. I'm glad your thoughts of Griffin are most always positive. I just wanted to say hi and thank you for all you have done for me and Jake. Jake is great. I am now on to bringing his blog up to date and then try to continue it on. Take care!
Last week I checked off a bucket list item by getting a tattoo. I will always carry Griffin in my heart and now he walks with me wherever I go. The artist did an amazing job of replicating Griffin's paw and adding the hair that usually grew like crazy between his pads.
Griffin lived an amazing life for 11 years! Diagnosed with osteosarcoma on March 17, 2020, Griffin's right forelimb was amputated on April 2, 2020. Ten days later he was running and playing fetch! Lung metastasis discovered in July 2020 did not slow down Griffin and he lived joyfully for the next 7 months, passing peacefully at home on February 11, 2021. https://griffin.tripawds.com
Oh Stacy, I love this!!!! Chills!!! With every step you take, Griffin is definitely walking right with you!
And the artist really did do a spectacular job. The atten to detail, especially the hair and how it was so delicately and perfectly duplicated. The way he blended the shades of lighter and darker Griffin's pad....quite a talent! The Artist put a lot of care into this treasure . Well done.
Thanks for sharing Stacy. This really is beautiful 💖
Hugs
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
PS. Always smile when I see Griffin's banner, and I saw it several times today. Guess he was just checking in to see if you'd posted his great tattoo yet!😉
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!
Omgoodness!!! I'm so glad I signed in❤ That is just amazing Stacy!
I have wanted to do that but just haven't gotten "around to it" . Im glad you did. The person that created that has a lot of talent.
Hugs and love,
Jackie and Huck❤
Hugs,
Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry 
Another memorial paw print that the artist, Charlotte Epright, did caught my attention online and I was glad to learn she worked in Connecticut, about 1.5 hours away from me. When first reached out to her, her earliest available appointment was at the end of July, but then a cancellation opened up a spot last Friday. I've been thinking about this tattoo since Griffin's diagnosis and I'm so very glad that I took the leap. There was definitely a cathartic element to sharing stories about Griffin with Charlotte, watching the tattoo form, and even the pain (which wasn't so bad). I love having a visible reminder of Griffin with me always...and loved shocking family that I got a tattoo! 
Griffin lived an amazing life for 11 years! Diagnosed with osteosarcoma on March 17, 2020, Griffin's right forelimb was amputated on April 2, 2020. Ten days later he was running and playing fetch! Lung metastasis discovered in July 2020 did not slow down Griffin and he lived joyfully for the next 7 months, passing peacefully at home on February 11, 2021. https://griffin.tripawds.com
Bravo! That is so well done Stacy, I love it! A beautiful tribute for a beautiful soul. Looks like Griffin made the magic happen so you got in sooner rather than later.
I would think that getting a tat on the top of your foot would reallllly hurt but apparently not? It seems like a great spot for a tattoo, one of the few areas of the body that I imagine won't get all saggy in old age?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
This is my only tattoo, so I can't compare the experience, but from what I've read, the top of the foot is one of the areas considered most painful because there isn't a lot of padding there. Honestly, it wasn't bad. I read a description that getting a tattoo feels like a cat scratching you with hot nails, and that was pretty accurate for most of the tattoo with a few spots that crossed the line to being painful, but the tattoo artist was good about not staying in one spot too long. I hadn't thought about sagging (LOL!), but I wanted a spot that I would see often but could be easily covered. And the symbolism of his paw on my foot was perfect, just like Griffin! 
Griffin lived an amazing life for 11 years! Diagnosed with osteosarcoma on March 17, 2020, Griffin's right forelimb was amputated on April 2, 2020. Ten days later he was running and playing fetch! Lung metastasis discovered in July 2020 did not slow down Griffin and he lived joyfully for the next 7 months, passing peacefully at home on February 11, 2021. https://griffin.tripawds.com
Yes I heard that about the top of the foot. Ouch. And if you thought that wasn't too bad, well heck, I'd say you have more in your future 😉 They are addicting!
And unfortunately yeah, a lot of spots on the body with tattoos won't look as pretty later on down the road. Where you got yours should do just fine I think. I have a fairly large one on each ankle, one as a bracelet and one on the side, both at least 25 years old, and they still look the same. Thank goodness at least some parts of our bodies don't droop!
I love the symbolism too, it's spot-on. Nice idea!!!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Oh Stacy, I love your tattoo! Yes, she did an amazing job. I love that you’ll always have a physical reminder of Griffin. You’ll always have Griffin in your heart 💕
Have a wonderful summer 😎✨
That is gorgeous. I’ve been thinking about doing something like this as my first tattoo since we lost Barley last year but haven’t yet figured out what I want.
Today is Griffin’s birthday. He would have been 12 years old.
At times I’m startled that he is no longer with me. I miss him every day and while the grief of losing him has dulled somewhat, I’ve been struggling mightily the past month. I finally registered that 2022 would be my first year completely without Griffin and my body was acknowledging this reality for a while before my brain caught up. And in just a few weeks I’ll mark one full year without my boy and I’m still not quite sure how that is possible. Well-meaning friends keep asking when I’ll get another dog and I don’t think they understand why I keep saying I’m still not ready. I don’t know why I’m not or when I will be, but I trust that I’ll know when the time comes.
I took a break after fostering Gracie to recover from her loss, and since starting a new job in December (as Director of Volunteer Engagement at Yonkers Partners in Education and I love it!), I’m not sure if it is feasible to foster since I’m gone from home for a good portion of the day. I continue to be very involved with Rescue City (medical records coordinator) and I’m also still working some hours each week as a graduate school coach for Johns Hopkins University, so my life is thankfully full and busy.
This photo was taken on Griffin’s birthday last year, and it is one of my all-time favorites. I was so blessed to have Griffin in my life for those 11 birthdays and I will love him forever.
Griffin lived an amazing life for 11 years! Diagnosed with osteosarcoma on March 17, 2020, Griffin's right forelimb was amputated on April 2, 2020. Ten days later he was running and playing fetch! Lung metastasis discovered in July 2020 did not slow down Griffin and he lived joyfully for the next 7 months, passing peacefully at home on February 11, 2021. https://griffin.tripawds.com
Ahhhh..remember that picture so well. Def one of our favorites too.. AMD that big hole's paw of his connecting with you so lovingly....just like his paw print on your foot (tattoo)💖
It's hard for us to believe it's been a year too. We reference him soooo,often around here. A member was wondering of her tripawd coild still ge a Certified Therapy Sog. Needless to say, once she heard about Griffin she was all in!!
Grief raises it's head when you least expect. Everyone will tell you it happens and seems like ot never goes away. It defi gets replaced and pushed in the backdrop with all the great memories, but is still there.
This time of year, and then the birthday, the "Angelversary"..... reveals how raw our emotions still are sometimes. And then you dealt with the loss of sweet Gracie too. Yeah, not an easy time for you.
I'm glad you nave a job that is so fulfilling and one that does keep you busy.
As far as your well meaning friends (and they are), you know things will unfold as they should as far as Griffin sending you another dog. He clearly had a reason for sending you Gracies, and that became evident very quickly. Hey Griffin........how bout sending one that is healthy this time and will ve with her for many years to come, okay??
Thanks so much for checking in Stacy. We all have been so touched becauze of meeting you and Griffin. His journey here was too short, but he gave us all lifetimes worth of lessons and brought us all so much happiness. We were always in awe at his fitness level and true zest for life.
Take care and thanks again for updating us. We are ALWAYS your family.....a fam who understands like no others can.
I know Griffin is having a wild birthday bash up at the Bridge. All sorts of junk food and lots and lots of balls to chase. HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEET GRIFFIN
Lots of love
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie 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!
Stacy, I'm so glad you posted on such a special day. Thank you for giving us the gift of that priceless photo. We are visualizing happy Griffin on his birthday in heaven, running and rolling in the grass and playing with all our Tripawds heroes. It's such a joyful scene and it makes us smile. He was such a special boy.
One year goes by so fast. I can't believe it either. You and Griffin became such a big part our community and will always remain so. It's not easy to process that all this time has gone by. We totally get it. Yes, you will know when the time is right to bring home a forever dog. For now, I think that your awesome new job is giving you a chance to process what you went through with Griffin and your sweet foster dogs. Not having the time right now is a blessing so that your heart will for sure be ready when your head is ready too. When you are, we would love to be a part of that joyful day too.
(((hugs))) and birthday joy to Mr. Unforgettable, Griffin!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
It's been a few months since I've posted here, though I did give updates about my foster pup, Kilo, on Griffin's blog. But this update belongs here, on Griffin's Journey...
This beautiful soul in the photo with me is Casey Tucker. She is Finn's mom and we became close through Tripawds when both of our boys underwent amputation surgeries in April 2020. She lost her boy far too soon but continued to support me through her own grief, sending Finn's Chinese herbs for Griffin and checking in until Griffin passed. We've exchanged Christmas cards and kept occasional tabs on each other. We were thrilled when Casey's work brought her from Cincinnati to New York City last week and we were finally able to meet in person! Hugging Casey in real life, reminiscing about our boys, and catching up on our current lives was the highlight of my week, and I’m so very grateful to Tripawds for bringing us together!
Griffin lived an amazing life for 11 years! Diagnosed with osteosarcoma on March 17, 2020, Griffin's right forelimb was amputated on April 2, 2020. Ten days later he was running and playing fetch! Lung metastasis discovered in July 2020 did not slow down Griffin and he lived joyfully for the next 7 months, passing peacefully at home on February 11, 2021. https://griffin.tripawds.com
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