Friends to the End. And Beyond.

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.

three legged German Shepherd dogs
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.

three-legged German Shepherd dogs
There’s no other girl dog like you, Codie.

And in January, our Chief Regulator Codie Rae turned in her badge. Life isn’t quite right ever since. The world is a little quieter with her gone. Ok, a LOT.

three-legged German Shepherd dogs
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.

three Legged German Shepherd Dogs
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!

three-legged German Shepherd dogs
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?”

Who You Calling a Geriatric Tripawd Dog?

What does a geriatric Tripawd dog look like? Definitely not Wyatt Ray Dawg, our eleven year-old wild boy.

The humans took me to the exercise dogtor the other day. They want to make sure I’m still up to the task of being your loyal spokesdog. When we were there, the dogtor called me a “geriatric” Tripawd dog. I thought “WHO are you talking about, lady?”

geriatric Tripawd dog in rehab therapy
Who, ME? Say it to my face, dogtor!

I might have turned eleven years young on Friday, but that doesn’t stop me from having a wild pawty. Talk about livin’ it up; I got TWO birthday treats!

That’s right party people. I’m eleven now. Sure, I’m a little bit more chill these days, and sometimes I sleep in later, but I still sleep with one eye open and I can hear you coming from a mile away.

What does a geriatric Tripawd dog look like? Certainly not me. If this is what 11 looks like, I can’t wait to see 12. I’m having as much fun as ever.

Tripawd with wheelchair
I’m an old pro at the wheels now.

Hoppy birthday to ME!

A Tripawd Thanksgiving (with a side of dish towel)

Three-legged Wyatt Ray has his first Tripawd Thanksgiving, then eats a towel and t-shirt for dessert.

Hoppy Thanksgiving everypawdy! Did you have a fun pawliday with your pack? I know I did! That’s ’cause my grandmaw has gotten so soft in her old age, she finally let me sit by the dinner table for the big feast.

Thanksgiving Tripawd
“Hey Dad, you don’t want that pie, right?”

I was soooo good. I didn’t even beg too much. My people were so impressed they sneaked plates of pumpkin pie scraps to me!

dog eating pumpkin pie
It wasn’t a whole pie like before, but the scraps were pretty good.

But just because I’m now almost eleven years old, don’t think I’m not a hellraiser anymore. Nope, that just ain’t the Shepherd way. There’s still a lot of rebel punk in me. See, this morning, I ate a tasty dishtowel for breakfast when my people were away on a walk.

dog eats dish towel
I couldn’t help it, it tasted like Thanksgiving!

Then I ate some of Dad’s favorite running shirt. I heard mom say he needed a new one so I just gave him a head start.

The humans were not happy when they came back from their walk. Mom just kept saying “Why, Wyatt, Why?”

dog eats t-shirt
Now you can get a new shirt, Dad!

Later, she went to the grocery store to buy me all new dog food. Lots of it, in cans! Isn’t that a riot? I got to eat canned dog food after eating the towel and shirt?!

“He’s either gonna puke or poop,” she said to pops. Now they’re waiting for me to do something.

Who knew being bad could be sooooo good?

 

All Work, Not Enuf Play for a Tripawd Working Dog

Wyatt Ray shows off his people skills as a Tripawd working dog at the 2019 Wild West Veterinary Conference in Reno, Nevada.

Wyatt Ray Dawg here. Did you furget about me? I don’t blame you if you did. My people have been too busy to let you know how I’m doing. Now that I think about it, I’ve also been too busy being a Tripawd working dog.

Tripawd Working Dog
“Did someone say work?”

A couple of weeks ago my people and me went to Reno, Nevada. That’s right, bright lights, big city. We went to the Wild West Veterinary Conference to help get the word out about the Tripawds Nation.

I thought I was just going to chill out for a few days while my people walked the conference and handed out information but nope. One day they said “Wyatt, you’re coming with us!”

Tripawd working dog
At least I got some tasty treats out of the deal!

Guess they wanted me to earn my keep that day. You can definitely say that I worked my tail off, and then some!

Sheesh. When my people said they wanted a working dog, I didn’t think they meant go to hang out with dogtors and be nice to them all day. Now that’s work for a dawg like me!

Walkin’, Rollin’ and the Tripawd Twitch

Does your three-legged pet have a Tripawd twitch? Wyatt Ray shows off his herky jerky stump dance after a day at the beach.

Hey Tripawds friends, did you miss me?

Tripawd wheelchair Wyatt
Wyatt goes off-roadin’ in his Walkin’ Wheels Cart

I’ve been a little busy being a travelin’ dawg, going from Colorado to Washington. The humans took me out of the mountains.

Tripawd wheelchair Wyatt
Hey this beach thing ain’t so bad.

I thought it was gonna be a bummer but nope. I got to go to the BEACH!

It’s so cool being able to get out to the water. I couldn’t have gone that far it if it wasn’t for my homeboy Travis Ray. He loaned me his wheels ’cause he doesn’t need ’em yet. After my doggie therapist (no, not the kind that fixes your brain!) fixed the cart up for me, now I get to go on longer walks.

Later, when I got home I was so tired, but it’s all good.

Tripawd Twitch
Does your stump do the chicken dance too?

I dreamed about herding chickens! And Mom thought it was “so cute” when she saw me doing the Tripawd twitch.

Yeah yeah, my stump still twitches, cause when I’m dreaming I forget that my leg is gone. You would think after ten years on three legs that my sleeping brain would remember I’m a Tripawd, but nope.

Does your stump twitch too?