Tripawds Spokesdog Wyatt Ray Dawg ponders the concept of time on his first birthday at the Rainbow Bridge.
Hey everyone, bet you didn’t think you’d hear from me again huh? Well, after all these years you should know I can’t keep quiet very long. Especially because today is my first birthday at the Bridge!
My furiend Holly made this card for my mom, isn’t it great?
Oh wait, I’m not one years old. In human years, I would have turned twelve today. At least we think today is that day, it’s all just a big guess. But really who cares? A number is just a number and that date or number of years really doesn’t matter to me. I’m just happy that I got a chance to wear my earth clothes for the time that I did!
My mom is sad today and I wish she would see things my way. There’s something about marking time that gets you humans all worked up. But you know, guys, that dogs and cats don’t keep calendars. We really don’t care how many months, years, or days have gone by.
All that matters to us is that each day is spent doing something we love, with the pack mates we care about most. Now, are you doing that today? I sure hope so. Because if you were wondering what to get me for a birthday present, that’s all I want; for you humans to Be More Dog and learn to live every day to the max. Got it? Good!
The time came for my people to Let go and Let Dog. To follow the course of nature, and help me be free of these worn out earth clothes.
I think Humans are part Retriever. They love to go out and play fetch for all kinds of things. Money. Cars. Houses. Cats. Dogs. But when they finally get those things, they sure have a hard time letting go of what they find.
The Wild Boy we will always remember.
In 2009 my parents found me and didn’t let go. I was so glad. We hung on together for a wild ride criss-crossing all over the continent in our doghouse on wheels. My life has been everything a dog could want. All along we knew it couldn’t last forever, but we pressed on, ignoring the truth.
What a long strange trip it was.
Earlier this year, I tried to prepare my humans that it would soon be time to let go of me. I slowed down. All those daily physical therapy exercises weren’t doing what they used to. I got weak.
Yeah, it’s hard to believe, I know. How does a loud, rowdy punk rock dog like me get old and wear out? My people tried so hard to not let it happen. We followed canine rehab therapists advice my whole life. My coaches worked me hard. I never got a pawliday from fitness!
Work. Work. Work. That’s me.
But twelve years went by, and then it happened. Nature bats last as they say.
A couple of months ago I knew it was time to ditch these earth clothes of mine. They served their purpose, and I looked great wearing them didn’t I? My people felt sad there were no miracles left for this geriatric Tripawd dog.
Forever a wild boy.
I held out as long as I could, until I could not. Last week I spoke to Mom, and I spoke to Dad. I showed them I needed to move on. And after lots of tears and talking, they agreed.
It was time for them to let go. It was time to let dog.
And so they did. Yesterday on November 10, they helped me hop out of my achy old bones. While stuffing my face with hot dogs and Auntie Carla’s Cosmic Cookies, I bowed out of this earthly dimension and barked my way to the Rainbow Bridge.
Let Go. Let Dog. I. Am. Free.
Please don’t be sad for me. Listen here people. I’m gone from the earth, but not from the heavens and definitely not from your hearts. Listen for my bark. I’m always by your side Tripawds friends.
Wyatt Ray Dawg. 01/03/09 – 11/10/20
Please join us for a live video tribute call to celebrate the life of Wyatt Ray Dawg and all our tripawd angels
Tripawds founders Rene & Jim invite you to a scheduled Zoom meeting:
Tuesday, November 17, 2020
12:00 Noon PST (3:00 Eastern)
Topic: Tribute to our Three Legged Angel Wyatt Ray and
All Our Tripawd Angels at the Bridge
Meeting ID: 916 413 1725
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Wyatt Ray the three-legged Shepherd shares some summer dawg highlights of his time in Oregon, and a little news on where he is staying now.
Where does the time go? My people say that a lot. Now I’m saying it. Two days ago it was June, when I last wrote to you my friends. And now, it’s August? How did that happen?
I had a good summer in Oregon!
It’s been a long, lazy summer on the big property by the river that we stayed on.
I love getting pushed around in my chariot. Who says only cats get staff? I have my very own chauffer.
Some days it’s too hot to wear a fur coat, but I can’t do anything about that you know. Instead, I’ve got my staff and Swamp Cooler to help me chill. Life is good.
Sometimes you just gotta break out the Swamp Cooler!
It was so hot for a while. Before it cooled off again, it was time to to hit the road. My grandpawrents need us with them in Los Angeles. So we packed up and I got to be a road dawg once more. Boy, that’s been a while! I furgot what it was like to go from truck stop to truck stop.
Wooohooo! I’m a road dawg again!
And now, we are here in the big city. We aren’t seeing much of it because of the virus. My mom pushes me in the chariot when it’s not too hot.
But I don’t care about the heat anymore. I’m livin’ large in the big, cool house, not in the doghouse on wheels, at least for now.
Instead of regulating the elk and watching for intruders in the mountains, I’m chillin’ with the a/c. This is the life! I ain’t never going back to that hot outdoors! Some day I’ll want to go out to the woods again, but no time soon. Home is where we park it. And right now, it’s good to be a city dawg.
Wyatt share his new life with senior Tripawd dog exercises, swimming and canine rehab for pain relief on his achy old bones.
Did you know that even senior Tripawd dogs need exercise? I’m proof! Check it out!
Wyatt doesn’t know he’s 11 years old!
Workin’ Out with Senior Tripawd Dogs Like Me
How’s it going pawty people? Can you believe it’s summer? I hope that you and your peeps are doing alright. Mom and Dad keep saying “These are crazy times” but I don’t know what they mean. I’ve always put the Crazy in their life, since 2009!
With all those years behind me, I’m a little slower these days. My peeps noticed, and they wanted to find out what to do about it, so they talked to my favorite rehab people on the computer the other day.
The dogtors asked mom and dad to make me do some exercises. Nothing too hard, as you can tell.
I’m still pawsome right? But the dogtor saw this video and was like “Oh yeah, well we can’t say until we see him in person. But it looks like lumbosacral disease.”
And I’m like lumbo who? The dogtor says “Well, it’s not surprising since he’s a senior Tripawd dog. But it’s also a German Shepherd thing.” I don’t know what that means but now I’m getting all kinds of extra attention, thanks to her orders. She’s in Colorado, and since I’m not a traveling dawg this summer, we won’t be seeing her for a while. Until then, is my life…
First I get to pond swim every other day. Not really swimming though. The dogtor only wants me walking in water. That’s why I’m on a long leash here. I try to swim far but mom reels me back like a fish.
But Mommmm I want to swim! What’s up with this walking thing?
Next, I get to see another dogtor every week. At least for a while. He’s a nice dude but he sticks needles in me. What the?
Another day, another dogtor.
It didn’t really hurt and I didn’t mind, since I got peanut butter the whole time. And the next day I felt so much better, my achy old bones weren’t hurting as much. Mom thinks she saw something new in my hop. The dogtor says he thinks the needles will keep me feeling good.
Um, why are there needles in my butt?
Mom and Dad are also doing all these new senior Tripawd dog exercises with me. They’re not as hard as my old ones, but I still have to work hard to do them.
At the end of the day, every now and then Mom tries to put a cold thing my back leg, ’cause that’s what the dogtor wants. I don’t really like it and try to run away, but she keeps trying.
Come any closer and I’ll . . .
These people, I tell ya. If it were up to me I would lay around all day. But the dogtor says to keep me moving or my back end will get stiff and hurt more. I don’t mind, especially if it means I get more peanut butter.
Well that’s it for now party peoples. Keep on hoppin’, stay pawsitive and I will too!
Wyatt Ray the three-legged German Shepherd dog has strict orders for humans now that his best pal Austin Rae got his wings.
Look guys, I’m not a real softie as you know. After all I am a German Shepherd. But there comes a time when life hurts so much that even tough dogs like me feel sad.
Nopawdy put up with me the way you did, Austin.
My brother from another mother Austin Ray has gone to the Bridge. He was just one of those dogs who was so nice to everyone he ever met. I admired that about him. He even put up with me and you know that’s saying something.
Booyah! Let’s all get the ball and see what happens! L to R: Codie Rae, Austin Ray, Wyatt Ray, Travis Ray
If you don’t know, Austin and Codie are part of the Oaktown Pack. They raised me when I was just a dumb young pup, right after I lost my leg. They taught me everything I know about taking charge and regulating you humans. And now they’re gone.
I’m gonna miss my best friend.
We sure had some times. Our people got together every now and then, even though we live far apart. They weren’t the only ones having a good time!
Mature dogs, but never boring.
Get this: try to picture four three-legged German Shepherds and one four pawed recreation leader, Smokey B, raising hell and having a ball! Yeah you know it was a par-tay.
I know that nopawdy lives furever. Not even the world’s greatest three legged German Shepherd dogs. It ain’t right, but that’s the way it is. We just don’t get enough time on this planet to establish order and do our jobs. Oh and have fun, that’s important too.
The humans always say life is short. Well duh I say, we animals have been telling you that all along. So here’s another reminder. Get out today and go play with your Tripawd. Your quadpawd too! Then give your human pack extra slobbery kisses and tell them how much you love them. Someday when I am just a memory too, you’ll smile and go “Remember how much fun I had when I did what Wyatt Ray told me to do?”
