Life after a Tripawd….. just a rambling….

The old saying comes into play… life does go on.  After all.. we are the living.. and for us, life does go on!    I agree with that saying… although it does sound harsh.   I also agree with a pet only has one fault.. a short lifespan.

Yet… it  feels weird.  There are times where sometimes I think, why am I still on this site.. I don’t own a tripawd anymore.  I am sure that is the case for many of the members here considering there are over 5,000 members!  I can see being here, getting advice, learning, asking questions, learning, sharing, and then eventually typing that “final post” , whether it be from the %&*#$* cancer that comes back, or our furbabies grow old and have the free run for the bridge in their sleep.  But once they are gone, then some may find it very painful to come back.  And some may think, why should I?  I don’t own a tripawd anymore.

I will admit though… It is painful to be here at times…  It is.  It is a confusing,  jumbled up mixture of emotions, and maybe some just cannot deal with it.  I am not faulting anyone for not coming back, and I am certainly not looking for any praise for sticking around.   But sometimes, it does hurt.  I sometimes wonder if I’m a bit of a masochist…   lol.    I re-live the pain of losing Franklin every time I read of one of you guys losing your sweet babies.    Maybe that is why some don’t come back.  It hurts.  It’s reliving everything all over again, like keeping a wound open, picking the scab off again, and again.    I cry, every single freaking time I read one of those final posts.. I cry!  Yet,  I am here… yup.. here I am crying at work (lol)… crying at home…  geesh..  I would probably cry in the car if I didn’t get carsick from reading my iphone while the car is in motion.. lol

And I would not be human if I didn’t admit that you feel cheated…  when you see all these tripawds living a full life.. and yours didn’t.  That’s probably very selfish and silly to say, but it’s true.  Not that you would wish anything to happen to anyone’s pet that has kicked cancers ass.. but … you feel cheated.  I guess with Franklin’s case, old age did probably have a bit of a part playing in only being with us for an extra 5 ½ months.  After all. He was 14 ½ years old when he passed.  Springer Spaniels short life span is 12-14 years..  so I guess he fell right into that statistic.  But what about the other pets who are much younger?   It’s sad, it’s heartbreaking and I guess I could ramble on and on about it, not making much sense but at least satisfying some urge of mine to type.. lol.  Not to mention have you read.. and read.. and read…  haha!

I have had dogs in my life since I was 13 years old.  The only time I have not had a dog was in 1989 from February 20th to July 27th.  I let my first friend Brownie, a 12 year old Springer, run for the bridge due to his back legs failing… as well as cancer.  $&*(%^# Cancer.  He had a large mass removed from his anal canal in July 1987, he was a survivor.. but his back legs gave out on him and he could hardly walk.  I think the cancer had come back as well, but didn’t want to put him through any more surgeries or pain.  I was young.. 25 years old with a 1 year old son.  Brownie was my first buddy.. got me through teenage years, moved out with me when I got my own apartment, got through my wedding and the birth of my first born.  He deserved better than me leaving him in Dr. Kato’s office to run for the bridge.  I could not stay with him.  I ran out crying.  I was young, inexperienced and stupid.  I regret that to this day.   I vowed I would never, ever do that again.. and I haven’t.  Never will..  I will always be there for my furkids when that new adventure is to start in their life.  Always.

RIP buddy.. I will always love you and miss you…

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And now..  we have Maggie at home.. Maggie will be 12 on Feb 5th, 2014.   Maggie has more patience than all of us put together.  She puts up with Mr. Wilson’s she-nan-a-kins every day!   Until she says it is time to stop.  Lol  I got Maggie as a 12 week old pup and she has been one of the most loyal, loving dogs I have had.  A little too loyal if you ask me.  Let her outside for a pee.. she runs to the grass, does her business and is right back at the door.. wanting to come back in.  My gawsh girl.. go sniff the yard!  Go lay on the deck and enjoy the sunshine!!  But.. she is afraid she will miss something.   And then again.. she is a Springer Spaniel and they are known to be Velcro dogs.  I think that would have been a good name for her.. Velcro.. or Lint.. or Klingon…. lol

i got the ball again

Maggie is getting old… er.  Her hearing is starting to go..  she is getting a little slower when she gets up.  Her face is getting whiter, and whiter.  She can’t jump up on the bed all the time..  she’s selective on when she gets up there.. doesn’t want to waste all that energy for just a 3 minute snooze.  She prefers when we are not there and she can sleep for a few hours!! Lol

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Maggie wants to play.. even when her legs are giving her a hard time.  She still wants to run after that ball.. and jump in the air for it..   She pays for that later in the evening when she’s a little stiff..   I then give her a Rimadyl pill.. (a doggie advil I call them), if I see her a little too stiff and slow.  Sometimes she gets the ball first, and sometimes she doesn’t.  But all is good.. she is still a happy dog.

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Mr. Wilson.. is now the same size as Maggie.  Mr. Wilson is only 5 months old..   This is scary.  Mr. Wilson is just finishing his level 1 of dog obedience and will be going into Level 2 in November.  Mr. Wilson sometimes forgets his training and still jumps on certain people when he sees them.  We need to work on that one.  Mr. Wilson loves to play fetch.. and “try to catch me when you can.. that is, IF you can!!”  This sometimes involves a sock or pair of underwear in his mouth.  Mr. Wilson has so many expressions it is hilarious.  And he “springs”  when you throw his squeakie he will run and then jump on it.  Pounce.. like from a spring board… lol   I really have to catch it on video.

Mr. Wilson goes in on October 2nd to have those little things snipped off.. as well as back dew claws removed and get micro chipped.  I have a feeling that Mr. Wilson will not be a happy puppy for a while.. poor guy…  but hey…. if you ain’t going to use them.. you better lose them!

Mr. Wilson says… “What do you mean I’m going to get nutured?  Haven’t you nutured me enough already??”   or… maybe he really understood what I said.. and this is his look of  “WTF??  Are you kidding me?  I haven’t even used them yet!!!!”

W 9 25 2013

 

Bark atcha later!

Author: Christine

I'm Canadian eh? living in Southwestern Ontario. My crew consists of my sweetie Fred, my son (25yrs) and my daughter (22yrs) as well as our 4 legged kids, Maggie (12yrs) and Wilson (1year). Franklin was my sweet boy who was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in September 2012. His leg was amputated on December 4, 2012. He was the cutest tripawd on this planet. He was happy every day. His tail was always wagging. Lung Mets took him from us on May 15, 2013. Rainbow bridge became a happier place with his arrival. We miss him terribly everyday. We lost our kitty in September 2012. Diesel, who was 18 1/2 years old when he passed at home, was (and still is) the Godfather. He is missed terribly by all. They are curled up together sleeping at the bridge under the stars, happy to be sleeping buddies again.

2 thoughts on “Life after a Tripawd….. just a rambling….”

  1. Beautiful post Christine. I know it must be so hard for you to come back here sometimes, but please know those of us still fighting this battle really do appreciate it – your humor and support gives me a lot of strength.

    All my love,
    Erica

  2. Christine,
    Thank you for writing this post. It is beautiful. I read & cry. Heck I did that before Sassy crossed. Now I still do it although no Sassy to snuggle with afterwards. Bosch and I are getting a bond too not that we didn’t have one before. We are glad that you come back and post. Give us all encouragement not just those still here but us who have babies who have crossed.

    xoxoxox
    hugs
    Michelle & Angel Sassy Sugar Bear

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