I adopted a senior tripawd on February 1st of this year. He is a min pin mix and just the sweetest dude. The estimates on his age range from 8-14, so who knows! I usually say he is between 10 and 12. A little background on my sweet Rex and how he came to be part of my family. 

Toward the end of 2018, I started thinking about adopting another dog. I knew I wanted a senior, as my schedule doesn’t allow for all of the time puppies require. I also have a soft spot for those old babies who get overlooked and knew I wanted to give an old dog a good life. At the time, my dog Rusty was 15, and we had just gone through a major health scare. My fears of losing my best friend and thoughts of walking into a house with no dog after so many years of being greeted with love and excitement was terrifying. So I started to look around a local shelters to see if there was an old dog that needed a good home. It was difficult to find a dog that met all the criteria, as I also have 2 cats and work a second job that will allow my dogs to come with me. I had to find the right dog to fit the bill. I looked for several months but wasn’t finding the right fit. At the end of January, I found a rescue outside of my area who had a handsome little min pin mix who had recently had his front leg amputated. I read about him, called and talked to the foster family, and couldn’t stop thinking about him, or reading articles about what to expect with a tripawd. I called my sister who is a vet tech, and she gave me more info. I filled out the application, was approved that day, and the next day Rusty and I took a two hour road trip to go meet Rex (Buster at the time). We all hit it off immediately. There was no doubt in my mind that I had found my newest family member. His foster family knew it too, and he went home with us that night. With the exception of a few days of arched backs and some hissing from the cats, things couldn’t have gone smoother. Rex stepped into our lives like he had always been here. 

It wasn’t until a month or so after adopting him that my boss asked if I would write a short story about how Rex lost his leg, and about the rescue to try to get some donations for them that I really dug into what led to his amputation and surrender. I knew he had been hit by a car, but that was the extent. I contacted the director of the rescue and she shared all she knew. After Rex was hit by a car, his owners took him to the vet. It is unclear how long they waited after the accident. The vet informed them amputation was the best option as there was too much nerve damage and the leg could not be saved. Again, unsure on the timeline, he was at some point taken to the local animal shelter, where he was given the name Buster. They were unable to address his medical needs, and contacted the rescue. They stepped in and took over his care. He was taken to a foster home the same day he was saved from the shelter. The foster family had to help him gain weight in order to be healthy enough for the surgery. Once he was in better shape, they were able to amputate his leg. They also neutered him. The foster family helped him heal after the surgery and went about finding him the right home. I still stay in contact with the foster mom and thank her on a regular basis for allowing me to bring Rex into my home. I love that little dude like I have had him his entire life. 

I worry on a lot of days that I won’t know how to help him if he is struggling with the issues that can come along with having his leg amputated, which is how I found myself here. I’m hoping I’ll gain some insight into what to expect and some tips and tricks to make his life the best it can be. Thank you for letting me share our story