Best Friends Animal Sanctuary is a world-class rescue organization just north of Kanab, Utah. For example, they took in twenty-two of the Michael Vick dogs and, with loving and knowledgeable care, brought them back to normalcy and found most of them forever homes. Those too far beyond reach for that lived out their lives in idyllic, southern Utah surroundings. Anyway, that’s where I went to find a dog. They had a sweet boy who had been hit by a car and left on the side of the road in a nearby polygamous community (yes, they still thrive there) notorious for its maltreatment of domestic animals. The vet had to amputate most of his left front leg, but the dog was quickly learning to manage with just three. His inner canine gyroscope was working just fine. I brought him home with me. They had given him some dumb temporary name, but he needed a good, permanent name, just like he needed a good, permanent home. Naturally, I called him Stump. We bonded faster than contact cement. Stump would go with me on hikes out in the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. We went back a number of times to Lick Wash and, when we got to the long slot canyon, he would take off running on his three legs, dashing right through the muddy puddle that always seemed to remain in one particular spot, his tongue flapping out, his love of life so obvious it made my eyes tear. I always strapped on a Camel-Bak with sufficient water for both of us. I’d shove a little plastic bowl in for Stump. I’d also pack us each an energy source, a special dog biscuit for him, an energy bar for me. I had one of those little pocket-size tissue containers for when I’d have to empty my pouch. Stump was no dummy. He took to going poop whenever I did. Talk about bonding! He was a wonderful companion and it broke my heart to have to lose him seven years ago. Yet Stump remains with me as an enduring symbol of making do with what you got, or don’t got, as the case may be.

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Talking about having an ostomy can be uncomfortable for most people. Still, it's something you can't always avoid.
Learn about some strategies that can make it easier to talk about your stoma.
Learn about some strategies that can make it easier to talk about your stoma.