Hallo Cassie ,

My name is Scapa, I live in Belgium with my boss Erwin and mom Ann. I am a Labrador retriever and will be 12 months old on April 15th. Last May 2004 I had my right front leg amputated right away after the diagnosis (Osteosarcoma) to get that bad stuff out of my body, and shortly afterwards I had chemo treatments (every 3 weeks till the end of 2004). Thank you so much for your website. You've made dealing with our dog Scapa's amputation so much easier by allowing us to see so many others who have gone through the same thing and doing just great. She is a joy to have around. Attached please find here photo.

Erwin & Ann De Pauw
Ghent - Belgium - Europe

In Loving Remembrance

Dear Scapa (15/4/2003 - 19/10/2004)

Animal love is a wonder.
Our friendship was too short but particularly close and personal.
You were a nice, gentle and especially faithful friend.
When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to heaven.
There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends.
All the animals that had once been ill are now restored to health and strong again.
They all run and play together,
but the day will come that our Scapa will suddenly stop and look into the distance.
Suddenly, she breaks from the group, flying over the green grass, faster and faster.
She has spotted us; when at last we finally meet, we will cling together, never again to be parted.
Her kisses rain upon our face and our hands again caress the beloved head,
and we look once more into those trusting eyes, so long gone from our life, but never absent from our heart.

Hello, My name is Shikira Precious Jorgensen-Baldwin. It used to just be Precious until my new mom and dad decided to make my first name Shikira (Native American for "beauty and grace with attitude"). I get called Kira for short. The man who gave me my original name kept me and a female Rottie just to make puppies for money.

One day the Rottie attacked me and broke one of my hind legs. After it was fixed, my owner neglected it and the pin fell. When he finally brought me back the animal hospital, it hadn't healed right and they had to amputate it to make me healthy. Then the man didn't want me anymore, because I "couldn't carry any more puppies." Even though he named me "Precious" he certainly didn't treat me that way.

Well, it was a very scary experience to be left at the hospital like that, but the people were really nice and they cared about me. They kept me there a couple months to help me heal, and then they put me in a great rescue called "Last Chance Animal Rescue" in Maryland. A nice lady named Jennifer found me a family who loved me for me.

Now I not only have a mom and dad who I love, but two cute little Pomeranian brothers and two cats who are my best friends! They don't see my missing leg as a handicap, because they love me and know with a little time I can do ANYTHING a four-legged dog can. I already love to run and play, chase my brothers, and play fetch with tennis balls and frisbees. My favorite thing to do is roll on my back with a BIG smile.

I've been with my new family for almost a month and I'm still a little scared sometimes, but every day I live with them is special and I am learning to trust more and more. All the people who helped me gave me courage to be a happy dog again.