Dear Admin,

I don't know what happened but my original post is gone! 🙁  Along with everyone's comments 🙁  i was editing it and then poof! it disappeared...so, posting again..

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October 20, 2010

One year ago today, we made the decision to give Maggie a second
chance on life. I thought I was prepared for her surgery, having really
known that she probably had soft tissue sarcoma on her left rear leg,
diagnosed by my sister, Gina, (a LVT) and then confirmed by Maggie's
surgeon, Dr. Chris Miles of Lucerne Vet Clinic. She was in so much pain
prior to the surgery, the week between the biopsy and the actual
surgery date, was agonizing...very long minutes, hours, days to finally
getting her some pain relief. After surgery, when I saw Mags the first
time, I was so upset...what did we do to her...no turning back now..but
wow, did we do the right thing?  Thank goodness my sister, Gina, was
there to keep things in perspective for me & help me get through
that first day at the clinic with Maggie.

When driving home, the closer we got home on October 22, 2010, there
was fresh snow on the ground. Oh yeah, just to make the struggles of
getting around for a newly amputated dog all that more difficult...for
both she and us. Then on October 25^th she wouldn't eat.
Running a low grade fever for two weeks and struggling to get her to eat
in that time frame. Thankfully, she was drinking – and drinking A LOT.
Several trips back and forth to the surgeon and local vet to find out
what we could do to help – what was wrong?  Those two weeks were pure
HELL. Totally. I got through it mentally with the help of my sister,
husband and friends. I still wasn't sure we'd done the right thing.
But no turning back now...keep on struggling until finally her fever
broke and she started eating on her own again! Party! The little
things like eating that were such a triumph!

Then comes the day she can be FREE off a leash, after having been on
one for a very long time prior to surgery, as she was misdiagnosed as
having an ACL injury. After she got her stitches out and we came home, I
let her loose. I will never forget the emotions that ran through me
for those first few minutes of watching her. Her learning to meander
around the yard on three legs. Her happily grabbing a stick to chew on!
Another small triumph!

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As the days, weeks and months have gone by, there have been many
triumphs for Maggie. She has gained in strength very slowly but with
the help of physical therapy that I do with her and being able to go for
short walks, she's gained her life back mostly...only on three legs -
three healthy legs 🙂  She earned her Rally Level 1 title in APDT Rally
Obedience in May.  She competed at another Rally trial in July earning
more legs in Level 1 and Halloween weekend she is entered in another
Rally trial, this time in Veterans class.  In November, she is entered
in the new Wag It Games where she will be in the special "Heart Dog
Program" for disabled dogs having special rules apply for her
disability!  She plays a bit of down scaled agility in the back yard but
doesn't compete in it anymore...but she's OK with that..she has just as
much fun in the back yard 🙂  We go for walks and she is up to a half
hour walk now on some pretty hilly ground.  There was a day when she
couldn't handle two days in a row of walking but now she can!

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I am so proud of Maggie. The courage she has had to endure at times
for just the little things that she used to be able to do so easily –
like walking across a hardwood floor – and trying her best not to slip
and not be scared. Don't worry Mags, I'll help you when you need it.
You are a very special girl that was given a second chance and we are
VERY glad you were given that second chance!

I'm
happy to report we made the right decision!

Happy
One Year Ampuversary to my AgileCowDog Maggie!!

We started
the Ampuversary party early on Sunday!  Here she is at one of my
favorite places - Deboullie Pond.  It is State of Maine owned land with
many surrounding ponds and walking trails.  From our house, it is 25
miles on dirt roads to get there.  While Mags can't walk far on the
trail anymore, she did venture on a bit of it.

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In the past couple of months, Maggie has really shown me how much
stronger she is on our walks.  And with the now changing weather to
crisp, cool air, she is showing me even more how strong she is.  She is
letting me forget on our walks that she is a Tripawd,  she is so strong
lately!  She really amazes me...even to this day, a year later, in her
accomplishments of living on three legs.

Here she is with her tendon chew as a gift for her Ampuversary.  I'm
sure she'll be getting lots of goodies as the day goes on today! 🙂  So
proud of you, Maggie!  Keep on being my AgileCowDog!  You
ROCK!