Minnie’s recovery will not be fast or simple. She is going to the vet this morning to get her morphine pain patch removed from her back, and her pain will likely worsen after that. The narcotics are causing hard and tight stools, she is having trouble eliminating. She is also disoriented, trying to figure out how to walk and balance herself. This morning we took the hood off her and she tried to come out and walk to us, she wobbled a bit but made it to Maria. We held her for a bit, gave  her food and medication – stool softeners, she had a quiet night resting comfortably in her crate.

Lenore is hanging out with her, her generous spirit is boundless. If it’s nice this afternoon we might take the crate out for a bit so she can be in the sun and so Flo can get a look at her. She looks a wreck and is pretty vocal, but we both sense she is in a lot of pain. It is still very strange to see that leg gone. I got some wonderful messages from humans who have had limbs amputated and they are urging Minnie on.

It’s interesting, but sometimes when I am in a story, I don’t really see it. At one point, Dr. Fariello said it is inspiring to see animals with three legs figure out how to get around, and then a bulb went off in my head: yes, this is inspiriting, this is a story to follow and photograph. Everyone I know has gulped at the cost of amputating Minnie’s leg, but I am not dwelling on that, we made the decision to stick with her and help her heal and this is inspiring to me already.