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.
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Hello again...
I didn't see the last post. yes.. I too.. was hoping beyond hope that there was some simple fix. Something that would give her back her mobility. To give her back her life.
I too.. am grateful I found you.. I don't know yet what this experience is trying to teach me.. but everything happens for a reason.
I am feeling all the good energy coming from you both.!! I do hope that other people can benefit from my posts on this forum. I was reading everyone else's story... so if they can glean anything from mine... maybe that is the reason for this.
You have gone though this and you know the pain. I can only go back though my photos and remember our great memories together. I know that in time.. the tears I have now.. will turn into smiles when I remember her as she was. I know whatever decision I have to make.. you won't judge and will be with me though the ordeal. I need to be more zen about this.. wishing it was different and holding on .. that is why I am suffering... this is the impermanence of life. We all will face it.
She did get those extra 2 weeks that were good. She learned to walk with 3.. was happy and engaged. My girl. ❤️🐾❤️
Jeane, Arbi has taught you so much. You ARE more zen than a lot of people, you are acknowledging the feelings, the struggle that we as humans face in our life, and that's the first step to finding peace with this heartbreaking development. You are still giving Arbi exactly what she needs. What a gift! Her soul needs this more than ever. If you do decide to set her free, I know without a doubt that you are doing it with all the love and compassion in the world for her needs, setting aside your heartache for another time.
Please let us know if we can do anything OK? We are keeping you both close in our hearts.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hello ..
I am finally able to sit and give a final update. My sweet girl... Arbi
She was unable to continue. The weakness continued up to her front paws. It would not get better nor could we wait. It was obvious that there was nothing more to be done except release her spirit from the body that had given up.
It is our final act of love we do for these precious pets of ours. As hard as it is. I held her in my arms. I did not leave her there. I took her home with me. I had one last night with her. While that may sound a bit crazy... I needed time to come to terms with what had happened.
The next day, I took her to the pet cemetery, where they will handle her remains and I will have her back home with me. I have a box that is special just for her things. I am collecting all her photos and having them all printed.
I know that you all have felt the pain.. and understand how much it hurts not to have our beloved dog with us. Rene said it best.. in the interview. .. they aren't our kids, they aren't human.. but they mean the world to us. And what lengths we go to make sure they are taken care of the best we know how.
Arbi meant the world to me.
I know I did my best to give Arbi a chance at a few more years of life. It did not work out that way. We have no guarantees in this life for anything.
I remind myself of the saying from Dr. Seuss. "Don't cry because it's over... smile because it happened."
I know in time I will smile...
I want to thank you both for your love and support... Had I not tried the surgery, I would have always wondered "what if".
Sending Love and Light.... Jeane ❤️🐾
Jeane,
My heart aches for you. I had to re-read your post a few times, just to let it sink in. We've been a community since 2006 and coping with loss never gets easier, ever.
I wish I had something more comforting to say other than "I'm sorry." How we all wanted your life with Arbi to go on after surgery, to discover new ways of relating to one another and creating more memories. I can confidently say that everyone here in this community who has followed your story feels as gut-punched as I do today. It's unbelievable how fast things happened. I'm just so very, very sorry.
We all ache knowing what you are going through because yes, we get it. Everyone who comes here for help is responsible for an animal who means the world to them, a living being who reminds us every day about unconditional love and presence. When we make a huge decision like amputation surgery, we feel the weight of our responsibility as pet parents. All we can do is hope for the best and prepare for the worst. Rarely, so rarely, the worst happens and our world falls apart. Then we are forced to make that final decision and relive the stress all over again. All of us here are grappling with the communal sadness of knowing that one of us is hurting, of knowing that this so could have easily been our beloved dog or cat or other companion. It's real and it's scary and I'm just so sorry Arbi had to get her wings earlier than anyone could have predicted.
I wish I could give you a giant hug right now, anything real and tangible that can express my sorrow for your loss.
Please, if at some point you'd like to share any of Arbi's lifetime of beautiful memories with us in Coping with Loss, we would love to honor her spirit that way. I can help with photos if you'd like OK?
Know that we are standing by your side in spirit, lean on us in your time of great heartache. The Tripawds Helpline is also open and waiting if you want to chat on the phone.
P.S. No that was not a crazy thing to do at all by bringing her home. It makes so much sense, you are so wise to listen to your soul's need to process her passing. This is a lesson we learned many years ago when Quinta got his wings.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Cannot count the times I tried to come back here and find "words", any words at all that would lessen your pain. There are none. Mostly my eyes would just well up with tears knowing how heartbroken you are, and will be for a long time.
We got to know you. We got to know Arbi. We got to know the Soul deep bond and devotion you shared as "Team Arbi". You constantly were helping others going through this journey.
We learned a level of grace from you that came from the enlightened way you expressed how you were working through the acceptance of these past several weeks. To be able to remind yourself, to remind us, there were good times with Arbi after amputation and that you knew, like all of is here, you had to try to give her a chance and were able to celebrate that....yeah, you are an enlightened woman whose grace has touched us all so deeply.
I'm so glad Jerry was able to find the words that I know will being you comfort. As she said, your tripawd family all felt a gut punch because of how short this journey was. Of course, as we were thinking in terms of "weeks", all Arbi was "thinking" the moments she shared one after another with you getting loved and spoiled and catered to having your attention non stop. Each day with you was a lifetime of love and joy.
Im glad Jerry posted a link to Quinta's tranaition. I remember it well and how very touched I was. Bringing Arbi home with you is something I understand completely and have done myself. And whether the gift of release is done at home or at the Vet, , I also keep them with me for one more night. It brings comfort in a way that I know you understand. It's a time I feel their energy Spirit without the confines of a failing earthly body. It's a time their energy Spirit gets to "hang out" awhile too as they continue to let us know they are still with us. Somehow it blurs the lines of "finality" and feels more like a "merger" of their earthly energy and their Spirit energy.
Jeane, we feel the void too. We know your emotions will be completely raw and your heart will ache for way to long. We know your love for Arbi and knowing she would want tpu to be Happy will eventually pull you out of the abyss. You'll climb out then fall back in over and over, eventually though, the gloriously happy times you and Arbi shared will help heal your heart. We promise you that.
We know Arbi will connect with you in a very Arbi specific way. We see it all the time. Maybe subtle at first, may take a while at first, but eventually she will make her energy presence known to you.
PLEASE know we are here for you. You and Arbi have nestled yourselves in our hearts and nothing can take that away. And make no mistake, Arbi has nestled herself in your heart and nothing can take that away. Nothing will ever break your bond. Nothing will ever dim her eternal bright light.
Surrounding you with our love and with Arbi's sloppy kisses
Sally and Alumni 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!
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