Hello everyone!

I've actually had an account here for a few months, but haven't been active much.  I enjoy the newsletter, and have read a few posts in my time on the site, but this is my first post.  I guess I should start by introducing my own little Tripawd, and letting you know a little about her, right?

Trinity is a Border Collie/Newfoundland mix - she's got the temperament, fur, and water affinity of a Newfie, but in a "more compact" Border Collie size.  She came to join our family near the end of 2009.  My best friend, who was volunteering at the Houston ASPCA, called me up to say, "There's a dog here you just have to meet.  I will caution you, she only has three legs."  On my next day off, I went in to meet her, and within minutes I knew she was coming home with me.  

At that time, the only information I was provided with was that she'd had her leg amputated after getting hit by a car.  While I was standing in line to pay, a woman came up to me and asked if I was adopting Trinity.  Mind you, standing about five feet behind her was a cameraman.  After eyeing both her and the cameraman warily, I answered in the affirmative.  Turns out she was the producer for the show Animal Cops Houston.  She was able to give me more information regarding how Trinity came to a tripawd: she was hit by a car, and after her owners neglected to take her to the vet, a neighbor reported them; Trin was seized from them (By the time the ASPCA got ahold of her, infection had spread more than halfway up to her leg, and her right front limb had to be amputated at the shoulder.)  The produced asked if I was willing to have her contact me in a few months to film her "happy ending."  I said sure, fully expecting to never hear from her.

Fast forward to April 2010 when Trinity's episode aired; it was the first time I viewed footage of just how bad Trin's foot was.  Even with my background in nursing, it was extremely difficult to watch the episode without feeling sick.  The highlight of the episode was when the surgeon (on the TV) called out her name (to TV Trin), sweet Trinny Lou perked up and ran over to the television.  She barked at the screen, tail wagging as if she could recognize the man that had helped save her life.

She initially had a horrid fear of cars (with good reason!) & storm drains (not sure why?).  It ended up taking six months to reliably leash train her, and to this day she'll startle if a car honks too close to her.  Luckily, obedience training helped A LOT.  I taught her the command "ignore," and if there is something that I know will either distract her, or frighten her, I give her the command and she will zero in on my face and ignore everything else.  It has helped immensely with both her car & storm drain fear, her wariness of small dogs, and her love of squirrel & bird chasing.

I think I've talked enough, now.  Here's hoping I can meet some of y'all in the forums!  

Roxy, Trinity Louise's Biped Mom