She remembered that Georgie, a Lab mix who was Melissa and Sean’s first dog as a couple, had been a rescued “tripawd,” as pets minus a limb are often called. The sweet dog had his back right leg removed due to cancer but was such an athlete that he could still hurdle guardrails at Delco Park and even enjoyed swimming in ponds.
Georgie, who eventually died when his cancer spread, had been a big success. That in mind, Melissa told Ally they would “foster” the new dog, but if she didn’t get along with Smarty – their 138-pound black Lab – and cats Wasabi and Miso, a new plan would be needed.
A few days later, the beautiful, brindle-colored dog walked into their house and never left. Sean, a longtime sportswriter who covered baseball in New York and votes for the Baseball Hall of Fame, named her “Mookie” after the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Mookie Betts.
Mookie blended in seamlessly, which really should come as no surprise. As Laura Mueller at thesprucepets.com notes, “Many dogs thrive on three limbs, enjoying the exact same activities as a four-legged dog.”
Vet Jeff Werber puts it this way at petmed.com: “For the most part, in dealing with three‑legged pets, I have found that the only one that knows they have a missing limb is you.”
These experts could have been talking about Mookie, who gets regular vet checkups but needs no special care.
Older tripawds are at higher risk for osteoarthritis and other joint problems, however, so Melissa and Sean address that concern by not taking 5-year-old Mookie on long walks. But she is allowed to run with abandon in the backyard.
Vets do suggest making your tripawd more comfortable by using extra pillows or blankets under the area where the limb is missing to lend support.
Mookie at times takes care of this herself, moving blankets and pillows around so she can comfortably lie on the floor. And she will sit on the right side of the couch so she can use the arm to prop up her torso. When she wants to watch TV with Sean, she balances on his leg.
I’ve met many dogs and cats and their owners over the years, and I believe Mookie landed in the right family. She has a mom who massages her joints and muscles to keep her limber and a dad she can run to when storms and fireworks scare her. She has pet siblings who have openly welcomed her into their “tribe.”
When I see Mookie, I automatically smile. She makes me laugh. When I see her running or wrestling with Smarty, I don’t see a missing limb.
In a way, she is my kindred spirit. The dog doesn’t let her missing limb get in the way of accomplishing the task before her and she has the support of a family and friends who want nothing more than for her to live her best life.
The more people know me, the less they see my wheelchair. I, too, try hard not to let my paralysis stop me from accomplishing the task before me. I have a family and friends who support me.
Disabilities can only limit your goals if you accept that you have one. Mookie doesn’t have one and her happy zest for life reminds me I don’t have one either.
Karin Spicer is a member of the Dog Writers Association of America and the Cat Writers Association. Reach her at spicerkarin@gmail.com.
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Tripawds is the largest online pet amputation support community. Founded in 2006, its worldwide network hosts more than 2,000 three-legged dog and cat blogs. More than 20,000 Tripawds members provide support and share their pet amputation stories in discussion forums and blogs. Made possible by the 501c3 Tripawds Foundation, their free resources and assistance programs help amputee pets and their owners, family and friends. For more information, go to tripawds.com or call the toll‑free Tripawds helpline at 1-844‑TRIPAWD.
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