betaman – Page 24 – for ingesting porpoises only

Sprinting with Calpurnia the Sled Dog

May 25, 2008 by betaman

Tripod Jerry meets Calpurnia, the three legged sled dog, along the Colorado Trail.

Tribute to Daisy: Making Sense of Saying Goodbye

May 23, 2008 by betaman

Two weeks ago as I was leaving New Mexico, my pawrents and I started traveling north to meet my Tripawd friend Daisy. We’d never met in person, but we were being treated by the same oncologist in Santa Fe. We had already missed meeting each other at the clinic by one day, so now we were finally going to get to play.

Sadly, we crossed paths one more time, but still didn’t get to meet. At the exact time were traveling northbound toward Antonito, where we would meet up with Daisy in a couple of days, Daisy and her parents were traveling south, on the same road. Only it was a very sad trip for them. See, the cancer had recently gotten the best of Daisy, and her health was rapidly deteriorating. Her Mom, LeeAnn, had to make the difficult decision to help Daisy across the rainbow bridge. She and Daisy were driving to the vet’s office at the same time, on the same road, that we were on.

Buying Time on an Emotional Budget

May 19, 2008 by betaman

When it comes to cancer treatment, it’s not about what things cost. It’s about maximizing quality of life and preparing for the inevitable.

I have cancer.

I acknowledge the fact that it will take me someday. But this is by no means an excuse for complacency. And it is no reason to be sad. Au contraire, mon chien. It is a fact of life, and death. And it calls for celebration of every beautiful day.

As the alcoholics say, acknowledgement is the first step. But it is the most important one. Denial is not just a river in Egypt. It can wreck havoc on human emotions.

The recent discussion thread about when to say when in the Tripawd forums really got me thinking about how much people hurt when they lose their beloved furry friends.

It also showed me what great support people can have for others in need.

Join Ted and His Dog Cancer Ride Across America

May 19, 2008 by betaman

Ted Schneck announces coast to coast bicycle ride to raise money for canine cancer financial assistance.

My Visit From Spirit Dog

May 16, 2008 by betaman

Before my recent appointment in Santa Fe, we camped out overnight in the parking lot of Rancho de las Golandrinas.

My people checked out the vast living history museum during the day while I gladly rested in the rig. This was just fine with me really, considering I didn’t care for the canon fire from the civil war reenactment going on!

But we did meet some new friends who worked there and arranged for us to stay overnight. And that evening, we were visited by Spirit Dog.

Meet Molly the Tripawd Pony

May 15, 2008 by betaman

A lot of people are surprised that big dogs can get along as Tripawds. But did you know that even a pony can get around on three legs?

This was sent to me by my friend Calpurnia. It’s been making its way around the Internet. I hope you enjoy it!

Molly the Pony
Story by Pam Kaster

Meet Molly. She’s a gray speckled pony who was abandoned by her owners when Katrina hit southern Louisiana, USA . She spent weeks on her own before finally being rescued and taken to a farm where abandoned animals were stockpiled. While there, she was attacked by a pit bull terrier, and almost died. Her gnawed right front leg became infected and her vet went to LSU for help. But LSU was overwhelmed, and this pony was a welfare case. You know how that goes.

But after surgeon Rustin Moore met Molly, he changed his mind. He saw how the pony was careful to lie down on different sides so she didn’t seem to get sores, and how she allowed people t o handle her. She protected her injured leg. She constantly shifted her weight, and didn’t overload her good leg. She was a smart pony with a serious survival ethic.

Jerry Update: Metronomic Protocol is Working!

May 12, 2008 by betaman

Well, it’s official: my metronomic protocol therapy is doing what it’s supposed to do.

Last week I saw Dr. Mullins one more time before leaving New Mexico, and she gave us the great news; the chemotherapy is doing its job, and has shrunk those nasty lung tumors by ten percent! We were really hoppy to hear that, especially because we are on the road again, this time in Colorado.

Maruk: Does This Look Like a Dog with Lung Mets?

May 10, 2008 by betaman

I’ve just gotta share this story about my friend Maruk, from Cincinnati, Ohio.

Last December, Maruk joined the Tripawd club because of bone cancer. He had chemo, and all was good until late February, when he let out a loud cough.

Sadly, X-rays showed “blurry flakes of snow on a gray and black background,” his Mama Karen said.

Karen says in her April 1st Forums post, “All we kept hearing was how quickly the cancer spreads once it is in the lungs. Panic set in. We didn’t want our buddy in pain, so we began discussing euthanasia.

Thank goodness we snapped out of panic mode! Occasionally, we hear “the Cough”, but he is nowhere near ready to give up on life.”

Tribute to Drake: A Tripawd Rescue Dog’s Story

May 8, 2008 by betaman

Pound puppies get an extra chance at life when a good person like you takes them home for a chance at another, better life.

And when a pound puppy has a physical challenge, yet still gets adopted, well that’s extra special!

Our friend Beverly wrote to us, to tell us about her miracle Tripawd dog, Drake. Although he passed away recently, his beautiful life story is one that will leave a pawprint on your heart forever.

Here’s Drake’s story, in Janel’s words:

The Perfect Bed for Your Tripawd Dog

May 6, 2008 by betaman

The following post was generously written by our friend Sasha, who lives in Tel Aviv Israel with her tripawd gal Lalla.

There’s something to be said about dogs when they sleep: they stretch out, growl, yelp, drool, produce various aromatic emissions and even sleepwalk And there is, of course, the oft-repeated “rabbit chase” which some dog experts claim is actually a re-enactment of pushing mamma dog’s mammalian protuberances to the max for the liquid known as milk. I for one, am going to stick to the “rabbit chase” theory and fact is, Tripawd humans are the real dog experts.

There’s no animal on this planet (apart from myself on a Saturday morning) who loves sleeping in as much as a dog. Although most of them think otherwise, most dogs do not need a human bed; they need a firm, comfortable no-frills / no-bling pad, which to our benefit should be easy to keep clean, i.e.: can be thrown into the washing machine after being used as a specialized dining room.

But when you live with a Tripawd, you do have to make special orthopedic considerations, but those don’t have to break your bank account.