Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Sunday June 14th we said goodbye to our angel Wrigley. It's been a very long time since we have been here, but we wanted to just enjoy our time with him, put trust in our Dr's and not think about if there was more and more we could do. We want to thank everyone for the support and information we have gotten through this ordeal. We could have not been strong enough to make the decisions if it were not for the words of encouragement and stories of hope in this forum.
Although we can't help but feel cheated for the short time we had left with Wrigley we cherished every moment of the last 5 months. The end came as a surprise since he had done so well through surgery and chemo and no mets in his lungs after his last treatment. Two months later, out of no where, he coughed up blood(a lot of it), that's when we found out the dreaded news. We noticed Friday he was having a hard time with his back legs, by Sat. morning he could not walk or move his bowels. The drs think the cancer could have spread to his spine, we will never know for sure since a MRI was too risky and I couldn't let him go that way.
My heart is aching, around every corner in every room I am reminded of him, he was always by my side, my buddy. Wrigley let us know he made it to Rainbow bridge by sending a big bright rainbow to us on Monday, (thats my guy, always worried about his mom:) The pain is tremendous but time will heal.
I want to send my thoughts and prayers to those of you that lost your friends since I have last posted. I have thought of you all often. It saddens me so to see the names of those that have passed.
Regards
Tracy
We are so saddened to hear this news, but glad you at least found some support and solace here. Thank you for sharing Wrigley's story, it is certain to help others down the road. And bless you for taking such good care of Wrigley and enjoying every moment of life with him.
I'm sure Jerry, Lalla and all their tripawd friends who have passed were there to welcome Wrigley to the bridge where they all now run free of pain forever. Peace.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Tracy
I am so sorry to hear about your Wrigley. I have been thinking about you a lot and wondering how things have been going. As you know we lost our Wrigley too at the end of March. We experienced the same with her- they also think her cancer spread to her spine/brain. She too got to the point of not being able to walk.
I know how it feels to have your heart ache like that. I hope you will find comfort in all the wonderul memories. Time will heal the pain.
What a wonderful sign he gave you to let you know he made it there safely. I can just imagine our two Wrigleys sharing stories with all the other tripawds.
You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Seanne and Angel Wrigley
Tracy - we're so sorry to hear about Wrigley 
I believe whole heartedly that God hand picked us to care for these special souls - tripawds. He trusted us with their well being and happiness and you made Him proud the way you cared for Wrigley until He called him home. I know it doesn't take away the unbearable pain and you may not even believe in what I'm saying, but I hope that you find peace and comfort in the words of people who care and in knowing that you and he will never truly be apart.
Much love and peace,
Heather and Zeus
Heather and Spirit Zeus - Our life changing journey…from the earth to the heavens…one day at a time…always together
Tracy,
Our deepest sympathy to you and your precious Wrigley. Although new to this site with our girl Toffee, what I haven't posted before is that we've been through this before, 16 years ago with our first baby, Kasey. Back then, the treatments just weren't available (or an option) for us.
To this day, we keep a picture of her on the fridge. The hurt was unbearable. I, like you, couldn't be anywhere that didn't remind me of her. What helped me through was knowing she was loved every day of her life and at the end we did the most loving thing for her we could.
Know that you gave him a wonderful life and he'll never be far from your heart.
Our prayers are with you,
Laura and Toffee
I'm so sorry for your loss. May you find peace in all the memories of good times. How special to see the rainbow as a sign, we should all be so lucky.
RIP, sweet Wrigley. Run free at Rainbow Bridge.
Shanna & Spirit Trouble ~ Trouble gained her wings 3/16/2011, a 27 1/2 month cancer survivor, tail wagging. RIP sweetheart, you are my heart and soul. Run free at Rainbow Bridge.
The November Five - Spirits Max, Cherry, Tika, Trouble & Nova. 11/2008 - 3/2013 An era ends as Queen Nova crossed the Bridge.
I am sad to hear of your loss, your Wrigley and our Paris had surgery about the same time. I am sorry he changed so abruptly, but I am glad you had the time with him, so was he. Often I try to remember that our dogs don't know they have cancer, they really do live their full life to the very end. Take good care and be kind to yourself as you grieve.
Gineej & Paris
Grateful for every moment we had with Paris…..no regrets!
Honoring her life by opening our hearts & home to Addy!
We are so sorry to hear you lost your beautiful Wrigley. You took such good care of him. We are facing the same thing soon I feel with our Ember and they can play together in that better place. They are so special when we have them.
Jane and Ember
Tracy
I'm so sad to read your news, and so heartened at the special sign he sent for you.
You're in my thoughts and prayers.
Mary
Cemil and mom Mary, Mujde and Radzi….appreciating and enjoying Today
Im so sorry to hear about your Wrigley. We lost Max the 30th of May. You miss them so much, but they do let you know they are still with you. What a wonderful sign the rainbow was! Wrigley making sure that Mom was ok 
We will think of you in the coming days and our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Fly free Angel Wrigley II and give Max a lick and a nudge for me 
Paula and Spirit Max
Tracy,
We are all very sorry to hear about your loss of Wrigley. You are a very special person to have taken on this TriPawd journey to provide Wrigley with more months of what was an clearly a wonderful life. When we started down this path, I said that any amount of quality time would be worth the emotional and financial costs. Without the belief of the Rainbow Bridge, I am not sure how I could have made it through a loss such as you are now experiencing. I have a web page dedicated to all who have the kind of bond you and Wrigley shared. It includes the Rainbow Bridge and a copy of a "Sunday" strip from "For Better or Worse". This strip helps me rember that we will never really be without them, for the gifts that they have given us will live with us forever. Please visit this page at
http://home.com.....sthere.htm
Our entire family send all the positive thoughts and admiration possible.
Bob & Cherry
Tracy,
I'm so sorry to hear of Wrigley's passing. Five months is so short but it was five months were you got to tell & show Wrigley how much you loved him everyday. Those are memories you'll have to look back on forever.
Paula~ This post is my first to hear of Max's becoming an angel. Max was an absolute doll. I am SO very sorry. This is tough to hear... Wrigley in CA, Tracy's Wrigley & Max. All dogs that had a special place in my heart.
Best wishes coming your way~
Jenna & Zak
Thank you everyone for your truly heartfelt caring. This is the place I know people truly understand the heartache I am feeling. It's not only the fact that we lose our best friends but others can't understand the emotions of the battle we have fought for so many months before it.
Seanne thank you for the poem. The days following I really was questioning (if we had done enough, diet etc. ) our final decision, I kept thinking to myself: he wanted us to try to fix him. After reading it- I realize, only because we loved him so much did we chose to free him from his broken shell. I have shared it with some friends who are coping with the loss of a pet also. I really believe those words are healing.
I'm so sorry about your Wrigley, I did lurk around from time to time and when I saw that Wrigley had lung mets I lost it. I tried to tell my husband and the words wouldn't come out, just tears. None of it seems fair. Question: did Wrigley slowly decline in her walking or was it sudden or fast? I'm just so confused how things turned bad so fast for us. In a matter of hours really he could hardly stand. I can say in the months previous I had noticed a little stumbling here and there and his legs were a little shaky, (when he was trying to potty) that week. So maybe it wasn't fast, we just didn't catch on. Again. I'm so sorry.
Jerry: I would like to offer to anyone who might need it: the neoprene sling we bought for Wrig at the hospital. Also, the runners for the house: gray, 6 pieces -most are approx 7ft long, one 11ft. I'll ship them at my expense to someone (or several) who might need them. This disease is so expensive, so if it can help someone out a little....
My thoughts and prayers are with everyone who has to be on this forum, be strong and take care of yourself too. I will check in from time to time, but now I need time away to heal.
Take Care
Tracy,
The poem was given to me by a good friend and I found it very comforting as well. Hard to accept, but it is our final act of love we have to do for them.
Wrigley's decline was very sudden. After her diagnosis of lung mets I had my mind all prepared to watch for those signs- she never exhibited anything that was related to the lungs. That was in the middle /end of February that the xrays showed the lung mets. By around the 6th of March she started "yelping" a little more when she got up, but once she was up she was fine. Her same ole self. At this same time we also had her on holistic meds/ herbs to see if those would help since chemo failed. On Wednesady March 23 I noticed she had a lump on the back of her neck and she was slightly cocking her head to one side. She was a little off balance but still could walk fine. I took her to the vet on March 24 and they took a sample of the tissue on the lump and felt it was most likely cancer. A full biopsy would have to be done to be completely sure, but we didn't want to put her through anything like that. By Friday am she was a little wobbly, but could still walk OK . I actually had my sister and sister in law come over and see what they thought- I had a gut feeling something was just not right and we were very close to the end, but everyone else that looked at her said they thought she still looked fine- was off balance more, but still walking. By Friday night she could not stand at all. She would make attempts, but could only get up enough to sit. By around midnight Sat am, she could not move at all. She could lift her head and that was about it. I just laid with her all night and when she tried to get up I just repositioned her. When the sun came up we carried her outside and let her lay in the grass and enjoy the sun. A squirrel ran up the tree and she lifted her head and wagged her tail. We let her enjoy all that for a while and she had lots of visitors then we took her to the vet later that morning. Unfortunately the vet was the only one there that day and could not come to the house.
That was the hardest part for us is how fast the decline was- and that it was not what I was expecting. They feel the cancer had spread to her brain/spine that was affecting all of her limbs. We were told it was very uncommon for it to spread that direction, but does happen. And when it does go to the brain it goes quickly.
I too second guess ourselves all the time. Did I miss this? How did this happen so fast- I know we can't do this. I think both of us did everything that could be done and gave our Wrigley's all we could. I do think that when Wrigley was first diagnosed, I would bet the cancer was further along than it may have shown in any tests. She had a very aggressive form that's for sure. I do know that even though it went so quickly - we got 3 months of wonderful wonderful times with our girl. She taught us so much in that 3 months- more than she did in the four years we had her. For that I will forever be grateful.
I know you are still so fresh in your goodbye- so I send my heartfelt sympathy as you continue to try and go on without him. It is hard, but it does get easier. Just know they are always with us- my little game I play with myself each day is to try and find the "wrigley lesson" - what did she want me to get out of today? What message is she sending me today from the other side.
You are in my thoughts and prayers.
I know you need to heal and that is just fine- but if you need anything don't hesitate to ask. I'm here if you need anything.
Seanne and Angel Wrigley
Seanne, thank you for the beautiful post. Your wisdom, truth, and dignity will help us all when the time comes.
Shanna & Spirit Trouble ~ Trouble gained her wings 3/16/2011, a 27 1/2 month cancer survivor, tail wagging. RIP sweetheart, you are my heart and soul. Run free at Rainbow Bridge.
The November Five - Spirits Max, Cherry, Tika, Trouble & Nova. 11/2008 - 3/2013 An era ends as Queen Nova crossed the Bridge.
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