This blog has been hijacked

Tess has decided to take over this blog.   She is hoping you won’t count her legs and see that there are four.  After all, someone gave her this pretty pink bandana, so she must be a member of the Tripawd Nation, right?

It’s been a hard week.  Otis had such a big personality that it filled the house.   Not sure that the space can ever be filled.  Tess is lonely, especially during the day when we are gone.   When I am home, she follows me around the house like my shadow.

I am still deciding what stays and what goes.   Yoga mats go, but the majority of the industrial floor mats will probably stay (remembering that Tess had cruciate repair – no reason for her to slip on the tile or wood).   The bed will stay with just the box spring and mattress (no frame) for the same reason, and we are still gating off the upstairs during the day.   I did have to pick up Otis’ food bowl, mainly because I kept accidentally almost filling it.  And I realized that Tess was picking something up from my bedding – Otis spent a lot of those last 36 hours there – and washed it.  Otis’ favorite bed is still sitting by the futon in the living room.   Might stay there for a while.

 

 

Tess' bright pink admission ticket to the Tripawd Nation.
Tess’ bright pink admission ticket to the Tripawd Nation.
Tess sleeping on the landing where Otis used to sleep the first night.
The first night, Tess slept on the landing where Otis used to sleep.
Tess returned to the bed after I got the bedding washed.
Tess returned to the bed after I got the bedding washed.

Author: otisandtess

Otis, an 8 year old 106 lb. lab/Dane mix, became a Tripawd on February 9, 2016 after his right front leg broke due to osteosarcoma. We did 4 rounds of carboplatin, but lung mets were discovered on Agust 25, and he passed on September 4. Otis was half of a bonded pair, and his adopted sister Tess, passed suddenly of hemangiosarcoma on October 9. The day before Tess passed, a local lab rescue group had identfied Gator, a 120 pound 6 year old yellow in need of a home, as a potential companion for her. His picture was on my phone, and my house needed a dog. . .

11 thoughts on “This blog has been hijacked”

  1. awwww. Tess is so sweet. I feel bad for her (and you). It will get better/easier. One day at a time ladies, one day at a time. I wish I could hug both of you.
    Wanda

  2. Oh Tess…. HUGS!!!! I know you feel that void. But you must feel Otis’ spirit all around!

    No rush on removing that stuff … unless it helps you. I was a single dog home and I left Shelby’s stuff out for a while and then I packed it up. There are some toys that were ONLY Shelby’s and Jasper will never have. But as soon as I brought Jasper home… she took to Shelby’s old bed… my friend told me that it smelled and felt like “love” (Jasper was a rescue from a bad situation) and it probably made her feel safe.

    Sending you hugs!

    Alison with Spirit Shelby in her heart (and little Jasper too)

    PS – I tied Shelby’s bandanna around my bed post so she still “sleeps” with me at night.

  3. Christine, we don’t mind if Tess takes over this blog because Sassy’s pack took over hers too. We still post about Sassy and all the pack.

    I didn’t rush removing anything in fact there are still some of Sassy’s things still out.

    Sending you hugs & thoughts

    Michelle & Angel Sassy

  4. Sweet Tess, welcome….thank you for carrying on for your brother. I’ve thought about what/if I would change when Nitro is no longer with us; I have a feeling I won’t rush to change much, because that would be acknowledging that he’s gone. You do what you need to get through these next days, weeks. Wishing you all peace, my friend.

    Paula and Nitro

  5. Hey Tess, you are filling big paws…even if you have 4 to do it.
    For your mom:
    I felt the same when Maggie crossed the Bridge- her little sis Tani was still at home and pretty much lost. The night I came home without Mag I got rid of all the bad stuff- the meds, all the extra food that she wouldn’t eat, etc. But all the stuff with good memories stayed in place. Her harness and leash stayed in it’s place as did her bowl and beds. Her blanket stayed on my bed for a year- and now it lives in the table next to my bed. When it felt right those things I had left out slowly went away. Tani didn’t really come back to herself until Obie came to live with us 5 weeks later. Take your time, love on Tess, stay close.
    Karen and Spirit Maggie

  6. Oh Christine ~ of course Tess can hijack the blog! I don’t know how you are doing it, honestly – how you are here offering your support to everyone just like normal. I think I would shut down the computer while I was crawling into my hole to hide. There’s no time line on when you have to put things away – you just do what you have to do.
    We’ll see you next week!
    Hugs,
    Donna & Murphy

  7. What a dear girl. So pretty in her pink bandanna.

    Hugs for you both at this very difficult time. Sending both of Otis’ best girls much love…

    Lisa and Pofi

  8. Yes Tess you are very welcome here even with 4 paws. (We really don’t count anyway). Your Mom is the epitome of what strong means. How she’s here offering the same support after her loss this week just makes her a hero to me. I still can’t do it every day after loosing Max in Jan & Ollie in April. I’m sure Otis is working through her from the heavens. Looking forward to you carrying on your brothers legacy here. As Karen said those are some big shoes to fill. Hugs to you Tess and Christine!

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