Greetings all. I can't tell you how helpful your website has been for me. I have a 7 month old cavapoo (he weighs about 15 lbs). Unlike many of you, my dog is not dealing with cancer. My healing thoughts go out to all of you, especially those who are managing cancer as well as amputation surgery. 

Charlie was just fine until one day when I picked him up from doggy daycare. They noted he was hobbling and he was holding up his right back leg. They weren't sure if he jumped off of something high. It's also possible that he was playing with another dog, who knows what happened. After a few days (I was hoping for the best) he was still favoring that leg so I took him to the vet. He had a fracture in the knee area and dislocated bones in that leg. I had to take him for surgery to a clinic about two hours away (in Canada) as our local orthopedist vet had no openings for 3-6 months. Charlie had surgery there - pins were put in and his leg was stabilized. Several miles and dollars later, I removed Charlie's bandage. The pins were sticking out of his leg. Back to our local vet and to a discussion of yet another limb saving surgery. I don't have the money for that - another surgery costing $5000 where there was no guarantee of improvement. I cried. Then I suggested amputation. The local vet agreed and Charlie is scheduled for amputation surgery in two days. 

I have been reading through recommendations from folks on this site. Again, these have been very helpful in preparing (me and the home environment) for this upcoming change. Thank you all. My question has to do with how to talk to kids about this. I have two grandchildren (ages 3 and 5) who live in another state. They know Charlie well as when I visit them, he comes along. I won't be visiting again until around Christmas. I write to the kids about once a week, giving them updates (most recently about Charlie). I talk to them once weekly via Facetime. I'm not quite sure how to address Charlie's amputation with my grandkids (especially my 5 yo granddaughter). My hunch is that it's best to talk with them once Charlie is up and about - maybe a few weeks after surgery. I want to normalize this and seeing Charlie in motion will do that. I like the point made by many that amputation is not something we do to a dog, but rather for a dog. I also understand the immediate reaction of some others (like from my two adult nieces who were in tears). Likely my grandkids will ask about Charlie - as soon as we have our next Facetime meeting. I'd appreciate any thoughts, feedback, reading material r/t minimizing fear and sadness that kids might have related to an amputation. TY in advance.  Cheryl