Three legs and a squirrel

Today marks 2 weeks and a day since Brillo had his amputation and officially entered the Tripawd era of his life. It’s hard to believe that just 2 weeks ago he came home from the Veterinary Hospital bruised, swollen and minus a limb. That he could actually walk  up our porch steps and into the house was a miracle unto itself. Our kitchen counter looked like a canine apothecary.

Every day I could see an improvement, reduced swelling and discoloration, less of a limp, a little more ease up and down stairs, weaning off the NSAIDS and pain meds, a wag of that long tail and kisses on my face telling me ‘Thank you for saving my life and letting me live more with you, the ones I love.”

Yesterday I saw my Brillo back to the Brillo pre surgery. I let him out when I got home from work. All of a sudden a red squirrel ran pel mel past him. That’s all it took! Brillo took off after that elusive chatterbox. He was leaping and jumping and running all around the yard and into the woods behind the house. I think if he could have he would have run right up the tree that the squirrel scrambled up to safety to. Brillo was happy and free! He had found his rhythm on those 3 legs and was galloping like never before. Today he started playing with his toys and trying to chase the cats. (The cats will always win. They just let him think that he    has a chance)

We can learn a lot from our dogs. They don’t have the burden of image or vanity. They live in the present always- the here and now. You can have the worst day ever and when you walk through the door, here is your dog sitting and waiting for you to love him. That makes everything better. They’ll eat the same food every day and never complain. They know when you need some comfort and lay their head on your lap.

Everyone should be so lucky as we are.