My bendyfooted mudpuppy is losing her bendy foot today... - Page 7 - Pet forum for dogs cats and humans

H.P. · #**181** July 19th, 2007, 10:58 PM

Whew!~ I am so glad to hear that Jaida is on the mend! She is looking great

growler~GateKeeper · #**182** July 19th, 2007, 11:31 PM

It's good to see her happy & playing w/her

buddy! I'm so glad she's doing so good.

happycats · #**183** July 23rd, 2007, 12:15 PM

How's sweet baby Jaida doing? It's time for a Jaida fix.....please

rainbow · #**184** July 23rd, 2007, 05:47 PM

Oh yeah.....I agree. Pics in the photo forum would be great.

hazelrunpack · #**185** July 23rd, 2007, 09:29 PM

I agree---it's been way too long since we last saw that beautiful smile!

bendyfoot · #**186** July 25th, 2007, 10:02 AM

Boy, I go away for a few days and I discover Jaida has a fan club!!!

(I guess I knew that already though...)

Sorry, I've been sick for about 5 days, and haven't taken any pics lately. BUT I promise to get some good ones this week and will post asap...

She's been great, though. With the exception of the shaved spots, I feel like this is all behind us know, and that Jaida has all but forgotten all the yucky parts. She's too busy loving life and having fun. Had a nice (short) walk in the woods for the first time since the surgeries (got a bit winded, but had fun) and also went next door to see Daisy, her retreiver buddy...they were extatic to see each other and had fun playing.

happycats · #**187** July 25th, 2007, 10:17 AM

Awwww I'm so happy Jaida is getting better! What a sweetheart

and your an

for being such a great furparent!!

Frenchy · #**188** July 25th, 2007, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by happycats

Awwww I'm so happy Jaida is getting better! What a sweetheart

and your an

for being such a great furparent!!

I second that !!!

bendyfoot · #**189** July 26th, 2007, 08:46 AM

As promised...

boy, she's cute!

(Boy, I'm biased!

)

hazelrunpack · #**190** July 26th, 2007, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bendyfoot

As promised...

boy, she's cute!

(Boy, I'm biased!

)

Nah...no bias there! Totally justified! She's sooooooo cute!

That smile is to die for! She always looks so happy. I'm glad she's getting to play with her buddy again.

Sorry you've been sick, though.

Stress do you suppose? I think you could all use a restful, stress-free vacation!

happycats · #**191** July 26th, 2007, 09:03 AM

* big sigh*

your not biased at all, she is CUTE!!
She looks so happy, and full of love and life!

bendyfoot · #**192** July 26th, 2007, 09:43 AM

This gal does love her life. It amazes me to no end. It's hard to describe, but I tried to yesterday on our blog. I'll share it here.

__________________________________________________ ______________
Crystal here.

I'm sure Jaida would like to share some of her stories with you today, but she seems to have developed amnesia.

What I mean to say, is that she is bursting to tell you about how she went for a walk in the woods with Gracie and her mums, and how she went to Daisy's house and that they were so happy to see each other and play again, and how she rolled in the grass, and chased some balls, and played keep-away from her mums and her sister, and chased her cats, and visited with her aunties Tara and Patty, and ate corn on the cob and....

I don't think she remembers all the craziness that happened over the past few months. She still has some scabs on her chest from her almost-all-healed incision, her fur is still patchy and fuzzy and growing in, and her stamina isn't what it used to be. She definitely looks different. She certainly must feel different. But I can't detect in her any acknowledgement of the change, or any remorse/pain/grief/anger/sense of loss...nothing. Like I said, it's as if she's forgotten.

Either that, or she is demonstrating one of the most amazing and enviable gifts that only animals (dogs especially) seem to be blessed with: the ability to forgive the past, take everything in life (good or bad) as just one more thing to experience, and then get back to the important business of loving the life you have at that very moment.

Jaida is a source of wonder and happiness for me, each and every day. I can't help but smile when she's in the room, and over the smallest things, like the distinct sound of her tripod hop-hop-shuffle on the hardwood floors or the way she gamely (and slowly) walks up the stairs at bedtime, or her new propeller-butt running style. It's all pretty run-of-the-mill doggie stuff that I'm in love with, even for a three-legged dog. But it just feels like every little thing about her, and the way she goes about her life, is special.

I think partly it's because, in all likelihood, she would be long-dead from pneumonia had she not found us in time and I can't help but think what a terrible loss it would have been had she died. I feel lucky that she chose us as her moms and that we were able to give her the help she needed. And partly it's because she lives her life so completely, and with such joy, and with no ugly parts of her past weighing her down. I don't know. It's very hard to put into words. She touches my heart in a way that no other creature ever has. Her presence in our lives, despite all the days and nights of tears and fear and heartache and sleeplessness, has been a gift right from the start. We wouldn't trade her for anything.

happycats · #**193** July 26th, 2007, 10:07 AM

OMG that is so sweet, made me cry! She truly is an inspiration.
The world would be a much better place if mankind could could have the strength, courage, unconditional love, trust, loyalty and zest for life that Jaida has !!

Yeah Jaida.

I know it's a little early in her recovery, but have you ever thought about taking her to a place (hospital, rehabilitaion centre) for recent amputee's, I think she would be an amazing example of how life can be after an amputation! I think Jaida would help in their recovery in so many ways!

bendyfoot · #**194** July 26th, 2007, 10:13 AM

I would absolutely LOVE to do something like that with her. I have a teacher friend who has already asked us to visit her special-needs class so Jaida can share her "special super-powers" (i.e. her differences that make her special) with the kids.

But FIRST: obedience classes (she's gotten off too easy so far) and Canine Good Citizen.

Then we can share her with others.

happycats · #**195** July 26th, 2007, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bendyfoot

I would absolutely LOVE to do something like that with her. I have a teacher friend who has already asked us to visit her special-needs class so Jaida can share her "special super-powers" (i.e. her differences that make her special) with the kids.

But FIRST: obedience classes (she's gotten off too easy so far) and Canine Good Citizen.

Then we can share her with others.

That's great!!!
It wouldn't be fair to keep her all to yourself

you need to share her, and her "special super-powers" with all:love:

Dracko · #**196** July 26th, 2007, 10:26 AM

I would love to see a video of her running and playing. I keep trying to imagine how she gets around. Can she keep up to the other dogs?

bendyfoot · #**197** July 26th, 2007, 10:37 AM

She's not quite as fast, and tires more quickly, but she definitely holds her own with Gracie, who is a super-crazy-fast runner. I'll try to get a video and post it....it's pretty neat to watch...

krdahmer · #**198** July 26th, 2007, 10:59 AM

AW and AAAWWWW...

She is such a special dog! I am always amazed at how our furry family members can live in the moment, and bounce back from the most harrowing experiences... if only we could take a little of that with us wherever we go...

Thanks for sharing this whole ordeal with us... she is such an inspiration to us all! (And visiting that class is such a great idea! The more children who learn that pets can live with disabilities too, the more parents who will be hounded not to give up on sick pets!! Win win!

)

Frenchy · #**199** July 26th, 2007, 11:49 AM

awww , she's totally cute !!!

And I love the text you posted. So, so true , it's unbelivable all they can bring us !

Give the girl a big kiss and hug for me.

rainbow · #**200** July 26th, 2007, 02:50 PM

Thanks for sharing your blog with us and the pics of beautiful Jaida.

She is such an inspiration and I love the idea of taking her to a rehab centre for amputees.

hazelrunpack · #**201** July 26th, 2007, 03:22 PM

Jaida really was very lucky to meet you, bendyfoot!

Thanks for never losing sight of her potential!

bendyfoot · #**202** July 26th, 2007, 03:27 PM

http://video.google.ca/videoplay?doc...07481012993000

Drako,

here's a link to an old video of her, from May, before the surgeries. She still has her "boo-boo leg", but it's not touching the ground at all while she's running (she really pumped it, but it mostly looks like it's just flopping around). I'll try to get a newer one this week, it would be good to update it anyways...

and an old one of her going down the stairs:

http://video.google.ca/videoplay?doc...88283475424946

It's funny...it's actually harder for her to do stairs now...not because of the lost arm, that's actually better, but because her body is longer. She really has to take them at an angle now....

chico2 · #**203** July 26th, 2007, 03:51 PM

Bendyfoot,Jaidas story and you for giving her the love she deserves just makes my eyes well up,she is such a beautiful girl and I am deleriously happy for her,I can sooo understand how you feel for her

Dracko · #**204** July 27th, 2007, 12:51 AM

Txs for directing me to the videos. Unbelievable how she can run that fast and you can see she isn't using that leg at all even back then.

Like everyone else I am so happy Jaida and you ended up in each other's lives.