Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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OK, I admit it. I have been sulking.
Oct 3 was a tough day. Not only did the world loose Jerry, but we lost our LilBit unexpectedly that day too. We celebrated the weekend with a fantastic dog campout featuring no less than 300 dogs and the people who love them, colorful aspens, crisp mornings, and s'mores, but I was sulking inside.
Why? Well, my wonderful Calpurnia girl is getting old. Fifteen. That is old for a sled dog. The number doesn't bug me as much as seeing age-related changes in her. She is slower, she can't hear, she seems to get confused, her joints sometimes hurt. She is certainly still Cali and enjoys her life, particularly supervising play sessions of the younger dogs, or snoozing in a sunny spot, but she is getting old and that makes me sad.
Until the other day, that is. I had a revelation while considering Jerry, LilBit, Sunshine, and the dogs that have gone on before their time. How dare I sulk and indulge in self-pity when I am SO lucky to have my girl here to actually grow old. So now we are on a new endeavor - Calpurnia will age for all the dogs that didn't get that chance. She will get old for all of them, and I will continue to be able to be a witness to her wonderful life as she rounds the corner towards "home". I get to experience that with her, and that is certainly a cause for joy, not sadness.
So, for all of your angels taken too soon, here we are, hopping on. Slowly, but still hopping.
Cali, you are pawsome! We love that you are aging for all of our heros who weren't able to grow old... and how wonderful that your mom is there to witness such a wonderful girl. Keep on enjoying life! Including lots of naps, of course!
Hugs,
Holly, Zuzu and Susan
Holly joined the world of tripawds on 12/29/2009. She has a big little sister, Zuzu, who idolizes Holly and tries to make all of her toys into tripawds in Holly's honor. And she's enjoying life one hop at a time!
http://anyemery.....ipawds.com
Oh Cali's mom - that is a great 'tude!
I think 15 is amazing!
But we over here understand what you are feeling. It's not easy seeing them age. I miss the charm of Comet hearing and reacting to every word I said. Now, her hearing is pretty much gone. And seeing her little body get old from hopping for 12 years, is hard.
We'll join you in celebrating old age and in our case, not having cancer!
Comet - 1999 to 2011
She departed us unexpectedly January 23, 2011 at the age of 12 1/2.
She was born with a deformed front leg and a tripawd all of her life.
Now that is a great attitude! I LOVE IT.
Cali, as always, leads the pack and shows us the way.
You are indeed so fortunate to go through old age with Cali, as ruff as it can be. What I would give to have gone through that with Jer. We barely got to see him turning grey. . .
Lead the way Cali, you are an amazing, incredible girl no matter how slow your gait is these days.
We bow down to your highness . . .
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Cali,
Your pawrents are very wise. I know that I hurt so very often because my precious Charites is not here with me, but I also never lose track of the fact that I was able to share twelve years with her. That is much longer than either my Cassiopeia or Cassandra. I will forever celebrate their lives, our time together, their gifts that I carry with me, but I long too for the hugs, smiles, and companionship that we shared. I honestly do live for the day that I will be with them again.
We have mixed emotions about you "growing old". We are very pleased that you can still be here enjoying life, but we would have perfered if you did not have to slow down at all. I know that all our companions just want to live life as best they can. Perhaps some day, I will be able to do the same.
Spirit Cherry's Dad
Oh, cali, you may be growing old, but your grace and beauty are still with you. All of us love you and look up to you. You are so much a pack leader.
Shanna & Spirit Trouble ~ Trouble gained her wings 3/16/2011, a 27 1/2 month cancer survivor, tail wagging. RIP sweetheart, you are my heart and soul. Run free at Rainbow Bridge.
The November Five - Spirits Max, Cherry, Tika, Trouble & Nova. 11/2008 - 3/2013 An era ends as Queen Nova crossed the Bridge.
Yes Cali!!! Keep on hoppin' girl! We love you and look up to you and I can only hope that my girl will be hopping in her old age such as you !
Tracy, Maggie's Mom
Maggie was amputated for soft tissue sarcoma 10-20-09
Maggie lost her battle with kidney disease on 8-24-13
Well I have to say that this post is so beautiful. I don't know much about Cali. Did she have cancer? 15 years old is amazing! Congrats to mom for being able to see the forest through the tree's.
Thanks for this,
Elizabeth and Sammy
Diagnosed with osteosarcoma in the right front leg 8/23/10,
leg fractured 8/27/10,
leg amputated 8/30/10
http://sammyand.....pawds.com/
I couldn't begin to say how special Sammy is to us. Living and laughing with and loving this wonderful boy is priceless.
fightingforsammy said:
I don't know much about Cali. Did she have cancer?
Elizabeth, Cali has been a part of Tripawds almost from the beginning, and recently celebrated THREE YEARS as a cancer survivor and Tripawd. She and I played together and she is AMAZING.
Here's my favorite video of her and I when we ran the Colorado Trail.
Stay tuned, my pawrents and Wyatt Ray are going to see her again in a few weeks.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
A wise lady once told me that we are not usually given the dogs we want, rather the dogs we need. Each dog is sent to us to teach us a valuable lesson. Calpurnia's lesson, I believe, is persistence. No matter what obstacle is put in her way, she preservers and eventually overcomes and finds a way to get where she is wanting to go. And it never seems to phase her. She looks at me and says "well, if it is important to you, you will find a solution and not quit until you do." As simple as that.
Go Cali!
Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole.
-Roger
Caras-
Pat, Angel Ruthie & Tess
3 years?! YAY Cali! I knew I had seen her in a video before of you guys all sledding, but I didn't know her story. I am thrilled to read that there is an elusive 10 percenter amongst us. Look at her go, what a smile! I like the beat of the video, Jerry and her were almost hopping in rhythm. Thanks for the info, I look forward to reading about your visit.
Elizabeth and Sammy
Diagnosed with osteosarcoma in the right front leg 8/23/10,
leg fractured 8/27/10,
leg amputated 8/30/10
http://sammyand.....pawds.com/
I couldn't begin to say how special Sammy is to us. Living and laughing with and loving this wonderful boy is priceless.
I would have turned 10 on October 31st, and although that might be considered "old" for a big girl, I feel that if not for that nasty thing in my leg, I had a few good years left. Thank you Cali for growing old for me 
Spirit Sadie
PS. Are you in Alaska now?
Sadie is my 9yr old Rott/Shepherd mix. Diagnosed with osteosarcoma in her right scapula 1/28/10. Our brave girl had her amputation 2/13/10 and her last chemotherapy on 6/6/10. Unfortunately, a tumor appeared in her back right leg and on 10/7/2010 Sadie's earthly journey came to an end. On 10/24/2010 we adopted Ranger, a handsome Rott/Lab mix tripawd (got hit by a car) I think Sadie sent him to us.
http://ranger.t.....pawds.com/
Sadie Bear - we were SO sad to hear you had gone on over the rainbow bridge. We hope you are pain free and have found the softest grasses and warmest sunbeams to lie in. Cali would be HONORED to grow old for you.
We are not in Alaska yet - one more week of work, then packing up and hoping to be on the road early November! Right now trying to figure out how to get 20 dogs through customs (twice). WAHOO!
Thanks Cali- hopping on slowly is just my speed!
While Maggie only made it to 11, I was blessed to have her with me 3 years and 9 months after amputation, and about 4 and a half years after her first mast cell tumor surgery. Our last three months were pretty hard- but worth every moment. When I start feeling like I was cheated by loosing her so early, I remind myself that she had an amazingly long run after diagnosis, something that far too few here get to experience.
And as far as a valuable lesson- I don't think I would have made it through this summer if I had not gone through my journey with Mag. I believe there are lessons to learn from each hard life experience, if we can decipher them. I am so grateful to have found the reason for Mag's time with me.
You go Cali- your aging gracefully is a beacon of hope for those here who are still on the path, and there is no better pup than a sled dog to pull for home for all of the angel and spirit tripawds.
Karen and the pugapalooza
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