Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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pattyatips said
Why can't I stop crying???
Someone once told me that the heartbreak that seems unbearable is the price we pay for loving so hard .... there is nothing like a connection and love between a dog (or cat) and their human. The bond is unbreakable and the pain is horrible! It does get better but please don't beat yourself up. I cried non-stop for weeks and then usually once a month on her angelversary and other random things. Two years in ... I am better able to not cry all the time. But it takes time. Stay close to us and call our helpline. We are here for you!!!
HUGS!!!!
Shelby Lynne; Jack Russell/Shiba Inu mix. Proud member of the April Angels of 2014.
October 15, 2000 to April 8, 2014
Our story: Broke rear leg in June 2013 - non-conclusive results for cancer so leg was plated and pinned. Enlarged spleen in September 2013 and had it removed and was diagnosed with Hemangiosarcoma and started chemotherapy. Became a Tripawd January 8th, 2014 and definitive Hemangiosarcoma diagnosis. Three major surgeries in 7 months and Shelby took them all like a champ only to lose her battle to cancer in her brain. We had 8 amazing extra months together and no regrets. #shelbystrong #loveofmylife
Your words of encouragement are such a help this morning. Everywhere I turn is a reminder of my boy. I have yet to have the strength to put away his bowls or pick up the half chewed bones laying around the house. The snoopy nose marks on the sliding glass door are now welcomed where before I was forever cleaniing them. I don't even mind the blowing screen on the screen door that he constantly just went right thru. The pain is almost unbearable but I also know that is because it was such a deep love. He will always, always be with me. I miss him so much.
Stay with us, okay,? Lean on js. Like Alison and so many of us here, we understand like no others can.
You aren't losing your mind, even though you think you are. This journey is soooo intense, from diagnosis on. And once the amputation takes place, our whole world revolves arou d our tripawds. We hover, we attend to every single need, we spoil with vigor, we watch over every hiccup, we are livi g on the edge without even realizing it.
We jave developed routines and habits with our tripawds...and then the void....then the routine no longer exists. You can't eat. You fix a plate of food and stare at it. You get up to do something, anything and then you sit back down and cry. You leave the house because you can't stand the silence. You turn right back around because you want to be back in the hiise with yiur boy. Your whole world has stopped.
When my beloved Haply Hannah transitioned, someone told me they cried everyday for two months. I remember thinking I really hoped that would not be the case with me. I couldn't possibly cry that much. I did. I can remember a day when I actually did not cry...and it was right around the two month marl. And the waves of grief still come, two hears later.
Most of us here kept everything in place that belonged to our pups. In my case I had a lot of slobber slung around various places and I'm sure a lot of it is still there! Her food bowl and water bowl remained in place for over a year. I still have them. I jave an ice cream container that she ate from still in the freezer. Don't worry about .oving or charging a thing!! One day it will feel right, or.not. I eventually ended up having a special place for some of her things. Didn't throw them away, just a special place. One member used the food bowl as a planter for "Forget Me Not" flowers.
I found that looking a pictures kept her close to me and forced me to remember a hapoy memory. Sure, it was bittersweet, but no way yiu can look at a memory of a happy time and not feel a smile trot across your heart.
He IS with you! You WILL feel his presence. Some felt and saw signs right away. For some, it took awhile and it had to be a really big sign for us to vet the message! And sometimes the dogs are having such a great rime at the Bridge eating steak and ice cream and pizza and getting massages from Angels and playing ball and rolling in stinky stuff that they are just too busy to connect right away!
Let us know yiur sign, yiur message. I bet it's gonna be a really good one.....as if the Coyotes celebrating him home wasn't big enough!
Wrapping you up in love and hugs
Sally and My Chunky Spiritual Being Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie
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!
Thank you, thank you, thank you. That was pretty much where I am at all summed up. Friends keep inviting me out, I leave, but can't wait to get back home because it is "our" place. I will stay close. And I am trying to post some photos but I am technically challenged. I have some beauties of my boy in his younger years that I sure would like you to see. And a video of us on his first walk, 5 days post op and absolutely kicking osteosarcomas ass. He did awesome on his 3 legs for so long. My whole neighborhood applauded for him as he walked on by. It was like we had a fan club. And when my Mom was still alive, I use to take him into her assisted living facility. You should have seen the old folks eyes at first. A 120 pound Rottweiler with 3 legs coming in. Pure Terror! Ha! And then Baron would win them each over, one person at a time. So when I came in and didn't have Baron with me, I was met with nasty looks and questions, "why didn't you bring that big three legged dog?" The old people could relate to Baron. They sat there in wheel chairs and with oxygen tanks. And in came Baron on 3 legs as happy as the day is long. He inspired them. He gave them hope. He was so very special. And I miss him so much.
First off, don't feel like you have to put any of Baron's stuff away until it feels right.
Maggie had been quite sick before she passed and so we had lots of meds, foods she wouldn't eat, and sub-Q fluids hanging around. I immediately got rid of the bad stuff, but her bowls and beds stayed in place until I felt it was right to move them. Her blanket stayed on my bed for a year after she left.
Here is how you Add Pictures and Add Videos to a forum post. If you need help you can PM me, or Jerry or Admin and we will get your pictures up.
Karen and the Spirit Pug Girls
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
Oh Patty, thank you sooo much for sharing these snippets of life with Baron! The visual you painted when Baron walked I to the assisted living hime...OMD! Such a delightful memory!
A d you better believe Baron inspired everyone he met! He sure did ours....and will continue to do so for anyone facing this journey. He will never be forgotten here!
Pretty sure your Mom was at the Bridge...giving him lots of applause for a job well done, and, it was I deed, a job well done
Someone will co e along and give you the link for how to do photos. I just know you jave ro put them in something like Photobucket and then "copy" htlm...or something like that! Anyway...stand by for proper help.
Look forward ro hearing more about this inspirational fun loving boy. Thanks again for sharing this treasured moment.
Love and hugs
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!
My IT challenges continues. Would love to post these photos and the video but am having difficulty. Can I email to someone to post for me? Sorry to be a bother.
Patty
wanted to add more hugs, to you guys. As we are going through almost the exact same situation at the same time.
So I cry for you boy and for my girl simultaneously. Understanding your hurt first hand.
steph Nekaangel
Angel Neka
7/4/2003-4/5/2016
2.5yr 3x cancer warrior survivor
Oh Patty,
I'm so sorry about Baron! He truly was a Cancer Warrior - over 2 years! That's amazing! Such an inspiration to so many that are just starting out on this hard journey. Especially those with bigger dogs. I, too, can just picture him walking into the nursing home!
Hugs to you!
Donna
Donna, Glenn & Murphy
Murphy had his right front leg amputated due to histiocytic sarcoma at 7 years old. He survived 4 years, 2 months & 1 week, only to be taken by hemangiosarcoma at 11 1/2 years 6/12/17
Read about Murphy's Life on Three Legs
Oh Steph, so sorry. Just an awful situation. Please let me know how your doing.
I did not realize how much comfort this community would bring me. You guys get it. Thank you and will work on the photos shortly.
Much love..........
Not a problem Patty, PM me and I can help.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Patty, just now getting caught up here. I am so sorry for your loss of beautiful Baron. I geared up when I read your post, why can't I stop crying? Just shy of 2 years later, I still remember feeling like it would never stop. You go out to escape the loss, yet want to be home where they were. I could go away and get a bit of relief and then, as I was heading down my road home, It would hit me full force, right in the gut. I can tell you, it does get better. Give it time. I cried all day, every day, then only parts of the day and eventually, the day came when I realized I had not cried for a whole day. As far as his things, keep what you want, for as long as you want. I still have some of Ty's medicine, though I am not sure why. I put his special keepsakes in a big memory box. It is just a big shoebox I got at Michaels that you can write a name on. I also made a scrapbook and planted a memory garden. I neede to see his pictures, have them around me. Some people cannot bear to look at pictures. We all process differently, there is no right or wrong. Sally, I was glad for your admission on the slobbers, I am pretty sure Ty' snoz marks are still on his window he looked out of. Coming here helps also. Stay close, it is great support. Thinking of you, Lori, Ty and gang
TY GUY, Best Black Lab ever! Diagnosed and had amp in January, 2014. Kicked MRSA's butt. Earned his angel wings on April 16, 2014. Run Free my boy and don't forget a shoe. Ty is a proud member of the " April Angels". Ty sent us Daryl, a Tripawd rescue in Sept. of 2016. Daryl is 5 +or -. We are also Pawrents to Chandler, a Border Collie mix who is 15 and 1/2, Lucy, a Corgi who is 7, 2 minis, 2 horses, and a feisty cat named Zoe. Zoe had a non skeletal Osteosarcoma removed in July 2015. No Chemo, she was at least 16. She is going strong although she is now completely blind. She is now close to 20 and her hobbies are eating and sleeping in front of her personal heater.
Hi All,
Well, picked up Barons ashes yesterday and that really de-railed me. The whole vets office was crying. They all knew Baron so well and were so in love with his wonderful personality. One of the technicians, who also has Rottweilers, got me a beautiful wooden frame with Barons name engraved in it. Another got me a personalized tag with all his information on it that will go on the beautiful wooden box that hold his ashes. I am glad to have him home. I keep him close, next to my bed, and somehow it is comforting. I completely agree Lori, I go out with friends and forget for a bit, only to turn the corner onto my street and see our beloved park where we spent countless hours together and I just lose it. My Husband travels a lot for work so I am alone a lot. That makes it hard.
I will still try to get some photos up for you to all see. I also would love to show our video of him 5 days post-op and doing so well. I hope he can be an inspiration for some of you here that are knee deep in the worst of it. It is awful and my heart goes out to those people as well. In the meantime, I am still at that crying a good part of the day stage. Hoping that will get better soon. I miss my sweet boy more than I could ever, ever explain.
Lots of love to all you wonderful kind people and fur babies,
Patty
Yes, I think as bittersweet as it is, we all find comfort in having them back home with us. You jave some wonderful momentos to start a lovely little celebration corner of everything Baron.
Baron clearly had an impact on his team of vets. He touched us all Patty. And you better believe he will inspire others with his legacy of courage and living life ro the fullest with so much joy in every second of every day!
Alison's mom had a beautiful globe made encompassing some of Shelby's ashes. Hopefully she'll reproduce the photo here for you. HINT TO ALISON
Be ipen to Baron continuing his connection with you. Be sure and share when he does.
You are never alone. Once you join this family you can't get rid of us no matter how hard you try!!
Love and hugs
Sally and My Chunky Spiritual Being Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie
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!
Im so sorry Patty...
Just seeing this now...
I know how wonderful Rotties are, I lost Zeus 2 months ago. Im crying for you, it brings it all up. I miss him so at times I still bargain with God. I would give up anything to be with him again, Baron was gorgeous and he beat Osteo! Good for you boy!
I know your with Zeus Bear Baron...Have fun guys, us mommies and daddies cant wait to see you again!
It gets better Patty, everyday your another day closer to being with him, remember that!
XO
Deb, Belle and Angel Zeus
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