Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
Tripawds is your home to learn how to care for a three legged dog or cat, with answers about dog leg amputation, and cat amputation recovery from many years of member experiences.
Join The Tripawds Community
Learn how to help three legged dogs and cats in the forums below. Browse and search as a guest or register for free and get full member benefits:
Instant post approval.
Private messages to members.
Subscribe to favorite topics.
Live Chat and much more!
Register
Log In
Members
Add Topic
Offline
I'm just catching up - found these postings to be very funny about the stairs....I was going to add my 2 cents - I found an old milk crate that I use to get Mackenzie in and out of my SUV - works like a charm. It's wide and tall enough so she just jumps right in with complete ease. Not to rub it in or anything Diane and Tana but duty free and no CHA-Ching to the stair salesman too! 
Then I got to your post Tana.....I'm so sorry to hear about your job. That just downright sucks. It seems like in these times hearing about company layoffs or downsizing is now the norm, not the exception. I guess on the positive side (if you can call this positive) is that it's no longer a stigma because it happens with such frequency these days. Tana, I also believe that things happen for a reason and there are blessings in disguise....hey, maybe your son is on to something.....Tana for Mayor! 
Keeping our paws, fingers and toes crossed for you.
Kami
P.S. You got my vote!
My sweet golden Mackenzie. She became my angel on Dec 29, 2010 at the age of 8 1/2 although she was always my angel from the time we brought her home. She was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in Sept 2009 and officially became a tripawd (front leg) on Nov 5, 2009. She will be forever in my heart and now she's running free with all of our other tripawd heroes. I love you Mackenzie!
Oh Tana, wow, we are very very sorry. Damn! How can the DO that? Aggh! What exactly did you do for the business?
You know you can talk about whatever here, no worries at all, we promise. We're all about supporting one another..
Oh I don't want to sound all Pollyanna because I know it's so hard so see straight at a time like this...but if you can, think pawsitive, all that "when one door closes another one opens" stuff sometimes makes sense. Things will get better, I have to believe it. Faith is powerful stuff. And so is the love of your pack. They'll get you through this, and we'll do whatever we can too OK? {{{hugs}}}}
Your story about the stairs is funny. Ok, so did you try teasing with hot dogs and get a test dog like Diane did? Did any of that work?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Thanks for letting me hijack the thread, Diane !! 
Thanks, everybody, for being so kind, supportive and indulging my sense of self-righteousness !
I truly didn't mean to blurt it out - I type faster than I think.... it's a curse.
Yes, this is an opportunity to do something else - a true re-birth/reinvention of myself - forced upon me - but nonetheless, one I must find my way through. Things will be different on the other side - and I intend to make that a good change. My next birthday - I'll be turning 50. What better time to re-invent myself ? I always said I was going to get a tattoo when I turned 50. I will. And now I get to be a whole different person, too.
Looking back now - I've really wasted 30 years of my life. I don't intend to waste the next 30 (God willing that I have another 30). Who knows what I might be capable of doing - I've never tried anything else !
Tana
Sophie (1998 – 2010)
"Going Dog" def: living every day in the moment
"It came to me that every time I lose a dog they take a piece of my heart with them. And every new dog who comes into my life gifts me with a piece of their heart. If I live long enough, all the components of my heart will be dog, and I will become as generous and loving as they are."
–Unknown
YOU GO GIRLFRIEND....and hijack away!!!
Oh gosh, try not to think of it as being wasted. You lived and you learned, and now it's time to follow your heart and do what you've always wanted to do. Hah! 50 is nothing, you're still so young! And we think a tattoo is a great way to kick off the next part of your life.
When I got sick, my parents sold everything and hit the road to live in a trailer. Little did they know that walking away from everything that was easy and familiar to them would be the best move they could ever make. Today they joke about how back when they "used to be somebody" and actually had a "real" income, life wasn't nearly as fun or interesting as it is for them now. There's a lot to be said for uncertainty and unpredictability.
You've got the right 'tude Tana, keep it up! We're behind you all the way! Tripawd Power rules!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
tana - i second the tat!! when gayle lost her right front leg, i remember saying 'i'd gladly give mine to save hers'. well, i decided to do just that, when in march i got a tat of paw prints around my right wrist, where her cancer had been. i'm 53, and proud every day to look at it and remember how much my 'sister' has gone through and how brave she truly is...inspiring. i have a picture of the tat on my blog, if you want to take a gander!!!
charon
Life is good, so very, very good!!! Gayle enjoyed each and every moment of each and every wonderful day (naps included). She left this world December 12, 2011 – off on a new adventure.
Love Never Ends
charon - that is a very cool tattoo. What a nice way to pay tribute to the bond you have with gayle.
Thanks for all the support ! You "guys" are truly pawesome !
Tana
Sophie (1998 – 2010)
"Going Dog" def: living every day in the moment
"It came to me that every time I lose a dog they take a piece of my heart with them. And every new dog who comes into my life gifts me with a piece of their heart. If I live long enough, all the components of my heart will be dog, and I will become as generous and loving as they are."
–Unknown
Hi Tana,
I was going to welcome you to the "50's" club - you will soon be a member -how exciting is that??? You know your birthday is getting close when you start to get those membership cards from AARP in the mail on a weekly basis. It's like, how do they know I'm turning 50?? Yikes! 50 is a big milestone so I suggest you do something very grande for your birthday. Bring in this decade with a vengenance! I'm 51 now so I know how frightening this birthday can be.....but I rationalize it by telling myself that I'm the new 40 . How's that for rationalizations....works for me!
Kami
My sweet golden Mackenzie. She became my angel on Dec 29, 2010 at the age of 8 1/2 although she was always my angel from the time we brought her home. She was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in Sept 2009 and officially became a tripawd (front leg) on Nov 5, 2009. She will be forever in my heart and now she's running free with all of our other tripawd heroes. I love you Mackenzie!
no no no no....50 is the new THIRTY...because SIXTY is the new FORTY....i hope
I vote we start a "Tripawds 50's Club". I'm seeing lots of potential members.
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.
Hey I'll go for that!!!
My sweet golden Mackenzie. She became my angel on Dec 29, 2010 at the age of 8 1/2 although she was always my angel from the time we brought her home. She was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in Sept 2009 and officially became a tripawd (front leg) on Nov 5, 2009. She will be forever in my heart and now she's running free with all of our other tripawd heroes. I love you Mackenzie!
ahem...how bout a 50 and UP club....(I keep wondering how I got to this age anyway...wasn't it just yesterday I was moaning about 40?)
Ok, it can be the 50 Plus club - because we are + members and because we are + aged. And I totally agree, Diane - it had to be just yesterday I was 40, and I don't feel any different.
My neighbors moved in when their kids were about 2 & 4. We went to a graduation party yesterday for the baby. Wow! is all I have to say.
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.
Hey that sounds like a great idea....the 50+ Club....and then our motto would be 50 is the new 30....60 is the new 40 and so on and so on . I'm with you on feeling like it was just yesterday being 40 - you're as young as you feel, right?? Maybe there is something to be said about that.
My sweet golden Mackenzie. She became my angel on Dec 29, 2010 at the age of 8 1/2 although she was always my angel from the time we brought her home. She was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in Sept 2009 and officially became a tripawd (front leg) on Nov 5, 2009. She will be forever in my heart and now she's running free with all of our other tripawd heroes. I love you Mackenzie!
1 Guest(s)
