A very old stray {The Old Fella Story}

[Dixie_Flyer]

Went camping this weekend at a campground on the lake, had not been there for a few years. Once there I began to walk around looking at the different sites when I noticed a very old dog. He just lay there until I got too close then he got up on three legs and hobbled away. Just judging I would say he is at least 11 years old. Well back to my story. The next afternoon he wanders into camp and just sits there looking. He looked so sad, so the wife got a bowl of our dog's food and put it down for him and he came over and ate. He then walked over to our dog and the two of them sniffed each other over and then they lay down together for the rest of the afternoon. That night he disappeared.
The next morning he was back and was a little more receptive of me. I looked at his injured leg and found that half of his rear foot was gone. It had healed and was not causing any problem except that he was walking on the stub that was left with no foot pad which causes him to limp. His front teeth were gone except for one canine tooth and it looked decayed. His eyes were tired looking and showing his age. He spent the rest of the day just laying around looking for a handout and by afternoon the campground host came around and saw him. I enquired about the dog and was told he had been there for three years and that most of the campers were tolerant of him and gave him food.
So what to do? Do you pick him up and bring him home or do you let nature take it course. He can't harm anyone, he has no teeth and he isn't a nuisance unless you don't like dogs, and no one seems to mind him being there. He is gentle and likes other animals as seen by his interaction with our dog. He still would not let me touch him but he would eat from my hand. Enough said, what would you do???

On June 28th 2008 Old Fella passed away of complications caused by bone cancer. Fella spent almost three years with his new family and became the icon of rescued old stray dogs. He will be greatly missed but his foot prints have been left in our hearts forever.

Now Charlie, the ten year old rescued Golden Lab has come to be a part of the continuing Old Fella story. (*Note, Charlie took his journey to Rainbow Bridge unexpectedly September 30, 2008)Suzie continues to charm her way into our hearts with her antics as she has grown from a puppy into a young lady. Togther they will carry on the Old Fella legacy. Come join us in their daily lives and be a part of the best feel good thread in RV.NET history. The legacy lives on.


HIghways Article Puppy Love

Old Fella Burke County Animal Rescue

[dogdiva]

Gary Thanks for sharing Prayers and positive thoughts coming from Texas for Dash

[Dixie_Flyer]

Gary I hope all the blood works comes back on the positive side and you with the vet can find a way to keep Dash comfortable and mobile. I hope we will see the whole family in Branson next June.

[chrisnpat]

They are so cute when they are little.........

[Code2High]

Never long enough...

[Dashonthedash]

The vet said it was likely just an upset stomach. Dash is getting a blood/urine screening, so I will know tomorrow if there is anything bad going on with him. He also got an acupuncture treatment today, and will get one each week for 4 weeks to see if we can improve his nerve functions.

I was looking through some old pictures today. Here is Dash at the age of 5 weeks:

[Dashonthedash]

I have never had a wife and kids to share my life so, since I moved to Colorado in '84, I have been on my own most of the time. It was pretty lonesome when I wasn't visiting family (or being visited) until I brought home a 7-week-old GSD puppy in September, 1987. Max brought joy and companionship (and a lot of work) into my life, especially when he was joined in May, 1989 by Willow, my first greyhound (and first rescue). Together, they were my Heart Dogs and filled my house with fun, laughter and tears when they left me for the Bridge, Willow in January, 1999 and Max in November of the same year. Willow was followed by Dot, my second greyhound, in April, 1999 and Dash, the 10-week-old GSD puppy, in August, 1999. Max was followed by Allan, my third greyhound, in November, 2000. Dot died suddenly and unexpectedly in April, 2004, and was followed immediately by Lily, then a 21-month-old greyhound. Allan died from osteosarcoma in February, 2006 (just before the first Old Fella Rally) and was ultimately followed more than 4 years later by Molly, thanks to this thread. I have been blessed with all of them, including my foster greyhound, River, who I had for 4 months and now is blessing his new adopted family. They have always been there to share both my joys and my sorrows; I don't know what I would have done without them.

[SGTJOE]

I have been trying to figure out why as I get older do I become more caring and so much closer to my fur kids. I thought it was because I was finally getting softer, but a friend recently talked with me about feeling the loss of his Bull dog. It seems as we grow up we are busy with our lives, what with work and kids and friends that even though we loved our pets then we just didn't get to spend enough time with them as we do today, at least for those of us who are retired. He got Ollie right at the same time he retired and they spent a lot of time together, even fishing. As we talked I began to realize that to me what he was saying made a lot of sense. Even though I have always had a dog I never spent the time with them as I do with my Rocky and Cookie. I can be gone down the street for a few mins and when I come back it's like I've been gone for days, it's hugs, kisses and licks. At night I can't sleep unless I can reach out and touch my babies. I look at them and can't help but feel sad knowing that one day I will lose them. Working in the yard both of them are with me, Cookie sits and watches while Rocky wants to help. Even when I'm working on the motorhome or car my little guy is right there, sometimes I have been tempted to ask him to hand me a socket. I bet if he had thumbs he would. Think I'll work on that.
And on the days I read this thread and see where one of you are talking about one of your fur babies hurting I hug my guys a little closer and hope that your fur kids get well soon.

[Dashonthedash]

Dash was somewhat restless last night and apparently threw up his breakfast this morning. I say "apparently" because I didn't see it, but Lily has a different food and Molly has shown no signs of being ill. I visit the vet later today and will let you know what he says.

[Dixie_Flyer]

Good morning everyone. It it is a start to a great day. The sun is burning off the morning fog and the sky is turning blue. No rain today with plenty of sunshine. Mama seems to be doing okay this morning, eating all of her breakfast which was laced with some broth left over from last night’s meal. Hobo never inhaled while eating her food. It was gone in seconds. I have found a lot of reprocessed persimmon seeds in the yard lately. Hobo has found a new delicacy at the persimmon tree, she loves them.

Today I am going to get fire wood for the fireplace. Last winter I kept a fire going most of the time and enjoyed it very much. Mama would lay in front of the fireplace soaking up the heat radiating from it. The weather man says we will have cooler weather starting Sunday , but it won’t be cold. Nothing near freezing at night and 60’s during the day. Suzie is doing well as is Peaches and Izzie. Okay I will leave you for now and get ready for our morning walk. Talk with you later.

[dogdiva]

IT IS SO hard to watch our babies slow down, but remember the POWER of positive thoughts.........Keep a positive attitude so they will pick up good thoughts from you and not negative thoughts

[Dixie_Flyer]

Martyn wrote:

Dixie Flyer wrote:
... I remember Old Fella in his last days as he struggled to walk and yet he wanted so much to go. The day he left us he was in Ava’s front yard watching Suzie playing. He was so content and just lay there with a smile on his face. As I walked to him he wagged his tail and rolled over on his side for me to comfort him. This is the hard part of having an aging pet. Yet it is rewarding to know you are making it easier for them to deal with the problems of old age.

Richard - it is very hard. Currently the light of my life, Princess, is really struggling. She has very quickly developed acute arthritis in her spine and hip joints (we had x-rays Saturday) and she can hardly walk or, sometimes, even get up.

Dr. has put her on Prednisone, Tramadol and a series of 8 injections to help the joints but we, and he, fear she is going downhill fast.

She is 13 now and we know that it will not be long before we have a dreadful decision to make. I have been through this a number of times before, but this one is going to be the hardest. We think that this weekend's camping trip will be her last...

Here she is with you, me and Fella at the Colorado Old Fella Rally:

That was the last rally for Levi as he went to Rainbow Bridge that November. That caught us completely by surprise. It seems as if it were yesterday we were in Colorado for the Old Fella rally. We have some wonderful memories of our fur babies don't we?

[Uppercrust]

It is very hard watching an older much loved furbaby go down hill, been there. Lady was the easy one to say goodbye to since she lived a long life, Diesel was the hardest only 2. We give them love and they give it back unconditionaly.

[Martyn]

Dixie Flyer wrote:
... I remember Old Fella in his last days as he struggled to walk and yet he wanted so much to go. The day he left us he was in Ava’s front yard watching Suzie playing. He was so content and just lay there with a smile on his face. As I walked to him he wagged his tail and rolled over on his side for me to comfort him. This is the hard part of having an aging pet. Yet it is rewarding to know you are making it easier for them to deal with the problems of old age.

Richard - it is very hard. Currently the light of my life, Princess, is really struggling. She has very quickly developed acute arthritis in her spine and hip joints (we had x-rays Saturday) and she can hardly walk or, sometimes, even get up.

Dr. has put her on Prednisone, Tramadol and a series of 8 injections to help the joints but we, and he, fear she is going downhill fast.

She is 13 now and we know that it will not be long before we have a dreadful decision to make. I have been through this a number of times before, but this one is going to be the hardest. We think that this weekend's camping trip will be her last...

Here she is with you, me and Fella at the Colorado Old Fella Rally:

[Dashonthedash]

I've seen it as a cliche on a hundred cartoons and comic strips, but I never thought it actually happened...I just opened my mailbox, it was empty and a moth flew out :E

[Dixie_Flyer]

Code2High wrote:
It's very hard, I think especially when you have an older one that's failing and then the younger ones that are able to do so much more. You just have to do the best you can. Do you still have the wagon?

Oh yes, we still have the wagon. That will be the next adventure for Mama.