Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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We didn't make it to the cabin either 🙁
But
We had a wonderful day
It was a rough night, but in the morning we cuddled, face to face and I held her paw.
Then we sat outside in the cold weather (her favorite) and she sniffed the fall air.
She was comfortable on a sea of pillows.
And I helped her chew her big beef bone.
And we sat on the lawn and two small kids on bikes came and pet her.
Always making friends.
And then we ordered every item off of famous dave's bbq
And we had a feast.
And then we watched what dreams may come while we cuddled on the floor.
Then she went for a big poop! And she sat by me and I held her for maybe 30 minutes
And then she started to convulse and moan in pain
And her gums turned white
And we knew
But she was SO strong
She walked to the car, and to the vet under her own power
even while her organs were hemorrhaging and the tumor had ruptured.
And she was SO brave
And wasn't afraid at all as we put her to sleep
because her mommy and daddy were with her.
I miss her so much.
There are no words right now to express how badly we feel. You gave Athla everything she could have possibly needed, including the gift of blessed relief at the end to her wonderful life. Our thoughts are with you.
Kathi and the Turbotail April Angel...and the Labradork
Murphy is a five year old Lab/Chessie cross. He was hit by a car on 10/29/12 and became a Tripawd on 11/24/12. On 2/5/13, he had a total hip replacement on his remaining back leg. He has absolutely no idea that he has only three legs!
UPDATE: Murphy lived his life to the fullest, right up until an aggressive bone lesion took him across the Rainbow Bridge on April 9, 2015 and he gained his membership in the April Angels. Run free, my love. You deserve it!
OMG... tears here for you ... I am so sorry for your loss... it sounds like she went out on her terms and in the best of all possible worlds... I am so sorry ... may those good memories help in the painful days and weeks to come.
Sending love ....
alison with spirit shelby in her heart (and little jasper too)
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
No..no..no words...just deepp guttural sobs as we cry...too many tears right now.....
Love...lots of love.....wish love could heal
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!
I am so sorry that you are going through this. I have loved Athla from her very first photo! I wish you could have had more time, but I guess we all with that. Please know that we are all here with you, and know how hard this is.
Otis - 106 pound lab/Dane mix, lost his right front leg to osteosarcoma on Febuary 9, 2016. Four rounds of carboplatin completed in April, 2016. Lung mets August 25, 2016. Said goodbye too soon on September 4, 2016. Lost his adopted sister, Tess, suddenly on October 9, 2016. likely due to hemangiosarcoma.
Wherever they are, they are together.
My heart is just breaking for you and your pack.
What a wonderful, special time you shared preparing her (and you) for her permanent residency at the Bridge. Such a lucky fur-baby to have so much love in her world.
Remember, time doesn't exist at the Rainbow Bridge. You are already there with her. In fact we all are; and we're playing fetch, chase, catch, we're digging, doing zoomies, loving and laughing with glee. What a wonderful barbeque picnic we're having: A never-ending party of joy.
Peace be with you, xoxo.
Harmony became a Tripawd on 10/21/14 (MCT). She left us way too soon on 11/1/14.
"We miss you so much; our love, our heart, our Harmony."
- Pam, Ron and Melody, Meesha, Doublestuff and Mariah Carey
thanks guys, we are in rough shape
but doing our best.
I have a TON of drugs left over
if any current tripawd needs anti- nausea and anti-poopy drugs (never opened or used)
Large paw (2.5 inch) doggy boots
and a variety of pain killers
xoxo
Oh sweet Athla 😔
I am speechless 😔
Athla was such a special precious girl, she touched our hearts so deeply 💗
She stood there sniffing the cold air, eating the food, taking in the cuddles, bonding with her Mommy and she knew her time on this earth was complete and she was about to start another journey where her spirit would be forever free 💫
Your sweet girl was so incredibly brave walking to the vet by herself, she knew it was time and she had to go ...
And she felt safe as Mommy and Daddy were there surrounding her with so, so much love 💗
She is the brightest star in the sky tonight 💫and because she is so special she shines brighter than any star ever did 🌟 her wonderful kind loving energy is forever with you both
May you find peace in your hearts to help ease the pain, I am with you in spirit and although I never met Athla, I miss your sweet girl terribly 💕💕😔
Eurydice 77kg/170lb Great Dane limping end of April 2016, amputation (right front leg/osteosarcoma) 4 May 2016 6 courses of carboplatin followed by metronomic therapy, lung mets found 30 Nov 2016. 3 courses of doxorubicin, PET scan 26 Jan 2017 showed more mets so stopped chemo. Holistic route April 2017. Lung X-ray 5 May 2017 showed several tennis ball size mets, started cortisone and diuretics. Miss Cow earned her XXL silver wings 12 June 2017, 13 months and 1 week after amputation and 6 1/2 months after lung mets, she was the goofiest dawg ever and is now happily flying from cloud to cloud woof woofing away :-)
As hard as this was for you to write, a d as hard as it is for us to read, there are so many beautiful gifts weaved throughout your thread that Athla gave you, and us.
Yet there is also a beautiful gift that you gave her, and I'm not just talking about the selfless gift of release that you so lovingly gave her. Before this journey, based on what you've previously shared, you had not mastered the art of staying in the moment and you often "ran" from dealing with scary things of life.
YOUR LOVE FOR ATHLA, AND HERS FOR YOU, WAS SOOOO STRONG AND SO PURE YOU WERE ABLE TO STAY EMOTIONALLY STRONG FOR HER AND WITH HER WHEN SHE NEEDED IT MOST!! You didn't run away, you surrounded her with your love as she peacefully made the transition to the other side of this life. No greater gift can be given!
ATHLA is a Zen Master for you. And will continue to be even in energy form! She came here to teach you so many life lessons to help your Soul's growth as you became more and more enlightened and more and more at peace with the wonderful human being you are!!
Athla had a lot of different missions here in her earth clothes and she accomplished them all! She touched EVERYONE she met! She inspired and will continue to inspire!!
And the earth clothes she chose to help fulfill her mission...MOST UNIQUE AND CUTEST DOG EVER!!! First she got their attention with her looks, then she taught us all so much about grace and fun and courage and bravery and living in the moment!!!
You have some rough, rough days, weeks and months ahead. The void seems unbearable. You hate foing to bed. You hate getting up. You cry uncontrollably and will for a long time. You will fi d some peace in knowing you did EVERYTHING ppssible for her and you listened to her when she told you as she walked to the car under her own power she was so ready tonhead to the Bridge!!
And when she got to the Bridge, she did her WALK OF FAME to a standing ovation just as she did many times here on earth! And we all join in on that standing ovation. WELL DONE ATHLA, WELL DONE!! And to her @oving humans, WELL DONE, WELL DONE!
With love, so much love
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!
Tears are freely flowing here as I read this. I have no words to give that can make you whole again. Beautiful Athla will do that with time as the joy of having had her in your life takes over the brutal pain you now experience. This Tripawd nation holds you in our hearts today and the hard days to come. Athla you were a special girl. Fly free with those Angel wings fly free.
I'm so very sorry
Athla - such a beautiful spirit - that big, goofy grin, those eyes! all that fur..
You gave her such a wonderful life ... you gave up your career to stay home with her and start a new direction, so she changed your life.
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
I just am so, so sorry. Sorry the end came too soon, but so glad you made the most of that time with Famous Dave's. We ordered in as well our final night.
Sending you love and understanding of just how you are feeling. Wishing you peace and comfort knowing you gave her what she needed to feel safe and confident and loved throughout.
Lisa, Minneapolis
On October 27, 2016, nearly 6 months after amputation, and 18 months since his cancer likely started, we lost Pofi to a recurrence of Soft Tissue Sarcoma in his spine quite suddenly. His canine sister also succumbed to cancer on March 1, 2019 - we lavished her with our love in the interim, but life was never quite the same without her only real canine friend. Cliff kitty had to leave us, too, suddenly, in August 2019. Lucia kitty grieved all these losses, but helped us welcome two new Lurchers into our home and our lives, Shae and Barley.
Oh Athla, our larger than life girldog hero, you will be missed like nobody's business. All that you showed us about living life on three despite what others "think" big dogs are capable of...you broke the mold beautiful girl. Nobody will ever fill your glittery paws, but many will be inspired by your courage, your charm and your beauty. It's a very sad day here once again (soo many losses lately, but at least your dear Tripawd friends will be there waiting for you), but we know your star shines brightly and into eternity to guide us all.
My heart aches for your humans. I know this is very, very hard for your fans left on earth. Whatever we can do to help ease the heartache, just say the word beautiful. You will be missed by all of us. I'm so very sorry.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
You all - made me cry yesterday. Thank you so much for your kindness.
This morning is very weird. I actually slept last night, so I woke up... to silence.
It's too quiet in this house! 🙁
I have to try and find a way to not look at everything and miss her so badly it hurts.
Later today I will upload some puppy pictures of her and post them here - you will be shocked how small, and how different she looked when she was a baby. I was there the day she was born!
To be able to be there when Athla was born and celebrate her life with love and joy.....to be there to celebrate her life with love and joy as she transitioned back home...sooo special. Without wuestion, Athla had your name stamped on her heart from day one, as you did hers.
We will look so forward to seeing more pics when you are up to it. What an adorable puppy picture she must have been!
We are surrounding you with our love and our strength. This is not easy and it hurts terribly.
Sally and My Chunky Spiritual Being 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!
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