I can’t believe what a lucky dawg I am. I got to meet the one and only Calpurnia, the three legged sled dog.
If there was ever a dog that demonstrates how we Tripawds can live a great life, she can. Calpurnia is tough as nails, headstrong and rambunctious, and completely defies her age (12 years old!). We met up recently, and took a walk at the Colorado Trail, on Kenosha Pass, about 100 miles west of Denver. Well, Cali ran. At 10,000 feet above sea level, I tried to run with her, but that girl just kept flying down that trail ahead of me. My Mom couldn’t run fast enough to film her the whole time! She is simply amazing.
Calpurnia and her people, Dave and TC, are active sled dog racers that live outside of Denver. They have a big team made up of rescue dogs — all of them! — and go around the snowy Rocky Mountains, mushing and racing and having a ball all winter long. Contrary to what some people have said about sled dog racing, this sport is not mean to the dogs, or inhumane. Sled dog people absolutely love their canine team members, as you can see by how much that Dave and TC have done for Cali.
I can’t wait for fall, because we are going to meet up with Calpurnia and her team, and watch them practice for winter competition. Mushing sure looks like fun, but I think I’ll sit on the sidelines with my humans and let the real snow dogs do all the work!
Yeah Jerry, I’m not much into sports myself. Kick back and let them do it. Have a beer. You DO drink beer, right?
Hell yeah, I love dog beer!. Next time we hook up I’ll pour you a pint.
Don’t sell yourself short, Jerry! We could have a tri-pawd team! Or at least ride in the sled while you drink your beer!!
This is truely a great story. For many reasons, one being the age. I am interested in knowing what form of cancer. Bailey (my wonderful and full of happiness and energy Golden) had a CT last week. It is suspected as being synovial sarcoma. The strange thing is, Bailey doesn’t seem to know that there is something which is not right in her left hind leg. She is happy, walks faster than me, and still likes to run and swim. Her blood work looks great. So besides being in shock, I am so confused. Aslo we have received two different opinions from two different surgeons as far as what the treatment should be. So my husband and I are not going for a third opinion. So besides loving to hear great stories such as yours, I am also in search of information/help. Thank you.
Cali has Synovial Sarcoma. You can read about her battle with cancer in more detail.
I think I’ve watced this for the umteenth time and I still cry tears of joy!
You go girl!!!
This is just like meeting people with diabililtes that are overcomers. Are you familiar with Nick Vujicic, who runs the Life without Limbs website? This guy amazes me how he can accomplish so much inspite of having so little.
I think they could easily make a movie about Calpurnia, she seems so happy and driven to do her best. Kids around the world could learn alot from the determination of this amazing canine.
I’m sure Calpurnia could also pull kids behind one of those mountain boy sleds over in Colorado almost as quickly as part of a team on a dog sled. Great post, by the way and inspiring, enjoyed the videos too!
Calpurnia has celebrated her two year ampuversary! Check out her latest guest blog post from 11/04/09, “Three Paws, Two Years, No Problem!”