Hannah and Wyatt are together again. May their love light up the sky for us, now and always.
All dogs have a job to do. For Wyatt Ray and his beautiful bride Hannah, it was to make sure we didn’t take life too seriously. Like on their crazy fun wedding day, February 18, 2013. All these years later, with heavy hearts we mourn the loss of our “daughter-in-paw,” who is now with her handsome husdawg at the Rainbow Bridge.
She went on to live an incredible thirteen years, thriving into her senior years and showing the world that life on three can be amazing. She had the best life any dog could hope for, and we are so honored we got to be part of her long, beautiful heroic journey.
Thirteen years still isn’t long enough, but no amount of time is when you’re surrounded by the love of an incredible, unforgettable dog like her.
The legend of Hannah will live on forever in our hearts. May she and Wyatt continue their beautiful life together up in the stars.
Wyatt Ray, our forever Guard Dog, is spotlighted in the November 2023 MUTTS Guard Dog saga happening this month. We are honored.
The legacy of Tripawds Spokesdawg Wyatt Ray Dawg continues. This month as the world watches the heartbreaking saga of Guard Dog unfold in the panels of MUTTS Comics, we are reminded that Wyatt and Guard Dog have so much in common. This series has really hit home for us, and having the Mutts pack share Wyatt’s story today on social media is an incredible honor.
Our friends Jim and Rene Nelson, founders of the nonprofit Tripawds, have dedicated their lives to providing advice and support for amputee pets and their people.
In 2009, their journey connected them with Wyatt Ray, a tripawd “guard dog” who lived the first few months of his life tethered and neglected in a backyard. Excited for attention or eager to escape, his confinement caused the chain to wrap and strangulate his right rear leg. A Tripawds member involved with a local animal rescue helped save Wyatt, who ended up abandoned at a vet clinic. At eight months old, Wyatt joined the Nelsons’ pack.
Jim writes: “Wyatt Ray indirectly showed his love for us, as best as he knew how. Our steadfast German Shepherd was not a cuddler. He didn’t care for hugs, baby talk, or deep eye contact. If he joined us at night, it wasn’t for long. Instead, he preferred to lay at the foot of the bed, always in protection mode and sleeping with one eye open.”
“Protecting the pack was his job, and by doing it well he showed his love. You can’t blame him, really. As a puppy, his first introduction to family life was to stay chained up out back, ignored and starving for attention. And from that early experience, he not only lost his leg, but a level of his trust in the humans around him.”
“It took years for him to regain what was stolen from him at a young age. We cherish memories of those rare occasions when Wyatt felt free enough to let his guard down, and be an ordinary family dog.”
Tripawds Spokesdawgs Jerry and Wyatt Ray
To read more about Wyatt Ray — and about a special “heart and soul” dog named Jerry, who inspired the Nelsons to start the Tripawds community — check out Jim’s heartfelt essay (written in 2021) on our blog:
We’ve known many Tripawds who started life as Guard Dogs. It’s sad how many dogs lose a leg, or their life, due to being tethered and neglected. So watching the Gard Dog story unfold in MUTTS really hits home. Thankfully, there are also good people people who know better.
Wyatt needed an amputation at 8 months old from being chained up as a puppy. We helped him love life on three legs for 12+ years. So there is certainly hope for Guard Dog. But only Patrick knows his fate…which is my reasoning for my quote shared here.
We can’t thank the pack at MUTTS enough for sharing Wyatt Ray’s story, and the work they’re doing to raise awareness for this important issue. Guard Dog has such a great message to share. It is both heartwrenching and heartwarming to watch his story unfold. Patrick is brilliant, and we’re certain there will be deep meaning behind whatever happens.
Having had the honor and pleasure to meet Patrick, we also know how difficult this story is for him to tell. And you can’t rush greatness. The best thing we can all do is help spread the word. Sharing now with Tripawds fans everywhere…
Patrick McDonnell & Wyatt Ray
(#Tripawds Spokesdawg II Wyatt Ray meets Patrick at 2009 book signing.)
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?”
See what happens when four, three-legged German Shepherds and one four-legged honorary Tripawd get together for the last ever Original Oaktown Pack play date.
Dog friends come, and dog friends go. Especially in my life, cause I’m a travelin dawg as you may know.
The Original Oaktown Pack: Smokey B, Austin Ray, Codie Rae, Travis Ray and Wyatt Ray
But my homeboys the Oaktown Pack are with me through thick n thin, even when we are far away from each other. They showed me how to be a Tripawd long ago when I came home from the hospital. I had no pack to call my own, they took me in like their brutha from another mutha.
So back in January when Smokey B (rest in peace my angel friend), Austin Ray, Travis Ray and the one and only Codie Rae showed up at my doorstep to kick off the new year, I almost lost my mind. I could not believe they drove for hours and hours just to see ME! And when they did, this is what went down.
It was the last time all five us us would ever be together as the original OP. I’m so glad we got together. Thank you Martha and Ralph. I will never furget those good times.
Poor Tripawds Spokesdawg Wyatt. He had to sit out this year’s Colorado musher dog camp out after arthritis surgery.
“Wyatt, you need to see the dogtor in Colorado,” Mom said to me after I went skydiving. So I went along with her idea, because I am a good dawg and know the drill. Like I really have a choice right?
“Mom, you’re smothering me again.”
What she didn’t tell me was the dogtors were going to stick a big fat needle in my leg to help with my arthritis problem.
“Hey that needle hurt!”
And as if that wasn’t bad enough, that I would need to do more couch surfing for like three weeks!
More couch surfing, more Tripawd arthritis surgery healing. Fun.
Worst of all, I had to sit out this year’s Colorado musher dawg camp out! Yeah that’s right, my Odoroloc pals and me got to hang out in the mountains again. But when they got to run run run for training time, I had to crack the whip from the side lines.
There was no racing for me this year. Not cool, mom. I want to mush too!
“Aww come on I want to go!”
What was cool was when TC did her annual blessing of the team to kick off the season. I got a bit of Odoroloc magic from Team Angels sprinkled on me, along with some of Spirit Jerry too. Now I’ve got more guardian angels than ever!
Look out, I’ll be faster than ever next year!
I hope the team has a blast in Alaska this winter. I’ll be back running with them next fall, just wait.
