When our wonderful, long-time volunteer Laura W. brought Timmy back from the vet hospital for us last weekend and let him out of the car, I watched in amazement as he zoomed off to check things out. I turned to Laura and said, "Wow -- what a difference!" I could immediately see how much easier it was for him to get around without that useless front leg hanging in the air. He had a smoother, more fluid gait, and he seemed to move effortlessly. It was like a dead weight had been lifted off of him. No more lurching.
It's an odd thing, but sometimes the surgeries that make us wince the most just thinking about them -- like removing a chronically painful, blind eye, or amputating a limb -- can make an enormous difference in an animal's quality of life. For Widget, for Ella, and now for Timmy, their recent surgeries have done wonders for them.
Here's Timmy in the Widget's House yard, before being put back up for "quiet time":
We still have to keep his activity level reduced because of his heartworm treatment a few weeks ago. So for now, he won't be allowed to be as mobile as he would like ... but pretty soon, he'll be turned loose to run as much as he wants.
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Only two weeks left -- voting ends on April 18th!
Please keep voting for the ranch in the Shelter Challenge -- and you can vote every day! We're currently in fourth place and still on track to win $3,000 for the animals, but every vote counts! We just slipped from third place to fourth, so please help round up as many votes as you can so we can stay in the running for the $3,000. Ask your family and friends to vote for the ranch, too!
Enter "Rolling Dog Ranch" and our state postal code, MT, for Montana, and it will bring up our listing.
Vote in the Shelter Challenge here.
Last year we won $3,000 in the first round and then won the $20,000 Grand Prize in the second round, so your votes really do add up and make for a wonderful gift for the animals here.
Thank you!
Oh my...my heart goes pitter patter when I see updates on Timmy. Sigh. The Guppies would worship him.
I haven't had a chance to congratulate you guys on the big move! I cannot imagine the logistics involved but am in awe and sending non stop good thoughts! The new place is gorgeous and I totally understand the appeal of being closer to a town!
Looking forward to hearing more about the move itself and how the horses will go...will it be your regular hauler and are you reserving their entire fleet? Wow! What a feat!
Sending good thoughts and please give Timmy a special squish from me!
Sue & the gang
Posted by: Sue | April 26, 2010 at 08:21 PM
Run Timmy Run!!! (When you are 100% again) So happy to hear this & to know he is enjoying life so much more.
Posted by: Colleen & Sweet Kitty Erin | April 13, 2010 at 04:25 PM
Timmy stole my heart the first time I seen and read about him. He sure looks like he feeks free now. Thank you for all you do for these wonderful animals.I was part of a transport team for 18 dogs that are going to rescue homes and to foster homes this past weekend and how GREAT it makes you feel to know that you can help them to a new and better life.
Posted by: Kathy and Harley | April 13, 2010 at 01:44 PM
Hmmm, I thought I had posted, but I guess I didn't. I'm so happy to see Timmy doing so well...he is one handsome boy!
Posted by: Ann | April 13, 2010 at 01:50 AM
You go, Timmy! So glad to see the handsome boy run!
Posted by: Nina | April 11, 2010 at 07:46 PM
Thank you for the update on Timmy. He looks so happy now. If we didn't have so many animals already I would adopt him.
Tammy
Posted by: Tammy and Jay | April 10, 2010 at 07:28 PM
Way to go for Timmy! He will be so happy now, wonderful.
When our three-legged cat zooms by nobody notices his missing leg, and only when he walks back-back-front, back-back-front do people stop to look at him twice. Then they'll be surprised and tell me; he only has three! Uhm, yes, I know ;-).
Posted by: Jessica, NL | April 10, 2010 at 05:01 AM
You GO Timmy!!! I am so very happy for you.
Posted by: Marla | April 09, 2010 at 07:23 PM
YAY TIMMY! That's terrific news! He does look happier on the run.
Posted by: Sharon | April 09, 2010 at 07:07 PM
Yeah! So glad the procedure went well. Go, Timmy!
Posted by: Rich Y | April 09, 2010 at 07:06 PM
Hey Steve....How is the road trip coming on long. That seems like quite and undertaking. Did you take any pics?
Posted by: Ev | April 09, 2010 at 02:55 PM
Congratulations. Timmy looks like a healthy typical dog now. Who knows...once his heartworm problem is taken care of...maybe he will be a candidate for adoption. Wouldn't that be wonderful. Way to go RDR team.
Posted by: Ev | April 09, 2010 at 02:54 PM
What a very handsome boy! And RUNNING!
The best of luck with your move and I know you will love New Hampshire.
Nancy
Posted by: Nancy | April 09, 2010 at 02:40 PM
Timmy,
How wonderful to see you looking so happy and healthy. And ready to run as soon as you got out of the car.
Now remember to rest up little one, you have a long trip coming up. Soon you'll be playing in the New Hampshire fields!
Posted by: Chloe | April 09, 2010 at 02:27 PM
Nice to see Timmy happy and he looks like a great dog!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He does seem much happier. Can't wait to meet him someday soon.
Cheryl
Posted by: Kevin Pohl | April 09, 2010 at 01:11 PM
Now that was great to see. Way to go Timmy and RDR team. He looks like such a happy typical dog now. Who knows.............maybe ready for adoption soon! Wouldn't that be delightful.
Posted by: Evelyn | April 09, 2010 at 01:00 PM
Happy, happy day for Timmy! He looks very well-balanced in both photos. Hooray, Timmy.I am trying to let go of a few things that I think will help my lifestyle - perhaps I can use this post as inspiration.:) RDR rocks!
Posted by: Angela | April 09, 2010 at 11:59 AM
Timmy is such a sweetheart, wonderful to hear the surgery was a success and nice to see him zoom around!
Also congratulations to the entire RDR family, your new home truly looks like a slice of heaven, will keep you all in my thoughts & prayers during the big move. Just thinking of the grand new adventures awaiting you all puts a smile on my face!!!
Posted by: Sasha in MN | April 09, 2010 at 11:51 AM
That second photo makes my heart feel as though it's swelling inside my chest.
Timmy says, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!
Posted by: Lynn (in Louisiana) | April 09, 2010 at 10:55 AM
WELCOME HOME TIMMY.
It is so great to see his new found freedom. His next real test will be how he does in serious Yankee country with that southern drawl bark he has from being a Louisana boy. Be Safe and Stay Warm
Posted by: Eric | April 09, 2010 at 10:43 AM
RDR gives these animals such wonderful gifts...the ability to enjoy life to the fullest and know what loves feels like.
So happy that Timmy is zooming around!
Posted by: Toni | April 09, 2010 at 09:40 AM
Timmy is ready to go!! He looks great and I know he will make a speedy recovery from the heartworm treatment and be running at full speed in no time at all. Thanks for the update on him!
Posted by: www.google.com/accounts/o8/id?id=AItOawmsLgNgKP42JiyUUmUP7Pn9gj6MAHJhs9A | April 09, 2010 at 09:04 AM
I had a sweet pet rat, Merlin, once who developed a growth on the bone of her thigh. When I first discovered it, I knew immediately she would probably have to have that leg amputated. That notion didn't bother me a bit because I knew she would be fine without her leg and better off without it.
It was the vets who were a little uncomfortable and hesitant to suggest it because it's radical (medically) and serious. But probably more because they were worried about how I might react. But for me, it was a no-brainer and the right thing to do for her. It extended her life and she got around just fine. Her recovery was incredibly short and she would use her strong rat tail to prop herself up when she needed to use both her front feet to hold her food. (For me, rats just don't have paws.) She had no trouble figuring out how to compensate. Animals are very good at that.
So, Timmy, I'm not surprised that you're zooming around. That leg was just a burden. Get rid of those heartworms and by summer (in NH!) you'll be a zoomin' fool!!
Posted by: Janet in Cambridge | April 09, 2010 at 08:54 AM
So happy for him. What a handsome boy!
Posted by: gayle | April 09, 2010 at 08:52 AM
What an inspiring story to remind us all that dogs live in the moment, not in the past, and they move ahead adapting to change. In this case, losing a limb was a positive change and Timmy has been liberated. A lesson for us all not to let the past drag us down or hold us back. Live in the moment, live with passion, live for the future. May Timmy have many more good years ahead. Thank you for taking care of him.
Posted by: Roxie | April 09, 2010 at 02:59 AM
Isn't he a cutie? I'm so glad to hear that he's feeling so much better now and look forward to the day when Timmy will be free to run like the wind to his heart's content!
A big hug from Italy, Carla
P.S.: My comment on your move to New Hampshire (your new home looks spectacular, btw) seems to have got lost in cyberspace.:-)
Posted by: Carla Polastro-Nigro | April 09, 2010 at 02:38 AM
Could Travis and Tropper have some competition? Timmy looks like such a sweetie-pie!!
Posted by: Shirley * James/Portland, OR | April 09, 2010 at 02:37 AM