2026 – The walk

03/01/26

When I hiked the Colorado Trail in 2000, my rescue stray dog, Tripod, walked with me.

She was a discarded, toothless, three-legged stray dog ​​found on an east Houston highway.

Overbred, hungry, with rotten teeth and no care. After extensive emergency veterinary work, including amputation of a hind leg and all of his teeth, spaying and grooming, he recovered at his medical foster home.

I adopted his nine pounds. I took her to my grumpy vet and asked if this dog was capable of enduring a nearly 600 mile walk when he gained some weight, relaxed, and trained.

After extensive examinations, he passed it; I really liked the idea and he asked us to send him a photo.

I drove to Durango, Colorado with her and spent some time acclimating to the altitude and looking for a safe place to store my car.

Although difficult, we finished the Camino; This old “damaged” stray dog ​​turned out to be my best walking companion and we sent his doctor a photo documenting his accomplishment.

We walked from west to east and ended up in Littleton, Colorado. We took a bus back to Durango. It was great.

Tripod «after» image just before the CT scan.

She was too frail to walk with me this summer on the hike from Taos to Santa Fe, New Mexico. While searching for suitable accommodation for her, her veterinarian diagnosed her with a deadly cancer.

His Rescue organization gave him a home euthanasia, a gift of ineffable kindness. Apparently, this veterinarian only goes to the homes of pet owners and reduces the animal’s anxiety.

Yes, it was sad.

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