Siga's Saga

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Today was my first day as a tripawd…ok, that’s not entirely true, I went to the animal hospital yesterday for the surgery, so it’s actually my second day, but it is my first day home.  Ok, ok, ok, that’s half true!  Let me tell you my story:

My name is Siga!  I will be three years old on April 26th!  When my mom was in high school her older sister got a dog, a chihuahua.  She was hooked!  She loved that pup so much!  But then she moved away to go to college.  For three long years she was away from that dog, Kagat.  When she moved back, she knew that she needed to adopt a special chihuahua too!  One day, she was just meandering through different buddy centers and looking online at humane societies.  She saw that six ten-week old chihuahua-mix puppies had just been put up for adoption that day about 75 miles south of her town.  She saw my picture, and she knew that I was the one for her at first sight.  When she got to the humane society she asked first to see me and then my sister, but she knew all along that she was not leaving without me.  So, on July 1st, 2007 I became Siga (they had named me Rusty at the humane society).

I was tiny, barely 2lbs!  When I was sitting I was twice as tall as a nail polish bottle!  Now I am just under 4lbs.. however I am MUCH taller!  My legs are about 7 or 8 inches long, and although my cousin Kagat is getting  a little fat (about 10lbs now) I am about an inch taller than him!

So here’s what happened: In October 2009 I was sitting on my mom’s lap when I saw a cat run by and I felt compelled to chase it, or at least act like I was going to chase it, but mostly just bark at it–nothing new.  I jumped off my mom’s lap and broke my front right leg.  It was obvious it was broken, because I was screaming in pain and my arm was flapping around everywhere (sorry for the graphic description!).  I had to have 6 pins put into my radius, they were attached to an external apparatus.  On December 8th I was completely “repaired”.  However, on January 10th, I was in a lady’s arms who was sitting on the floor and I jumped out of her arms–again, nothing new.  Right away I started crying and my paw became limp, my right paw.  My mom was in the other room and she came running.  This time it was not apparent that my leg was broken, but since I had no response in my paw and it was starting to swell my mom decided to take me to see the vet.  The news that my leg was broken again–the same leg, and the break was almost in the same place–was heart breaking!  We’d been through so much anguish already!  However, since the break was not as bad, this time, with the advice of the orthopedic surgeon who had done my first surgery, we decided to try and encourage and help my bones mend by using a splint instead of having another invasive surgery.  One month later the x-rays showed a non-union of my bones: they were not healing at all, and actually the ulna (the smaller of the two bones) was beginning to retract from itself and disintegrate.  The orthopedic surgeon recommended another invasive surgery and when asked if my leg would be healed strong enough to not break in another 3 months, she could not give a strong answer.  My mom asked about amputation and the doctor sounded very positive about that option.  My mom says that was the hardest decision she’s ever had to make!  She felt as though she would be doing me an injustice to remove my limb, but on the other hand, if my leg was going to continually break how could that be fair to me, and what quality of life would I have?

So you know above how I said it’s half true that this is the beginning of my life as a tripawd?  Well for the past 4 and 1/2 months, and especially the last 1 and 1/2 months I have not used my front right leg.  I’ve been practicing for the rest of my life.  But my life is more than just about my perpetually broken right front leg (although lately that seems like what it’s mostly consumed with).  I absolutely love to run, and you wouldn’t believe how fast I am (or was, I’m not sure now since I’m suppose to stay confined for the next 14 days), until you saw me!  I love to snuggle and spread love to anyone who’s around, AFTER I get comfortable, I’m a little talkative at first.  So I have three close friends, my cousin Kagat (he’s 7 or 8 and a chihuahua), my auntie Naku (she’s 2 and 1/2 and also a chihuahua), and my other cousin Zito (he’s also 2 and 1/2, but he’s not a chihuahua, he’s a white furry guy! and about 12lbs), and every time we get spend time together is fun, but very exhausting.  And of course, like most other pups, I love to go on walks!

So, that’s my story and I’m sticking to it!  I’ll let you know how it goes from here on out!  If you have any advise for me, please send it my way.

Check out my First Dayhome after my surgery:  IMG_1237