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

[agteacher]

You might check your local salvage yards for a jack stand. They might have something.

[Martyn]

Dan - so sorry to hear of all your troubles. Looks like you've found some really nice folks to help you now.

I hope that will take away the frustration and allow you to get things straightened out. Definitely looks like time for that new truck. I'm sure that Patty will come around when you get it! 🙂

[Dixie_Flyer]

Glad to hear there is a calm after the storm. There are some nice people out there and yes there are angels sent from God to help us over the rough spots in life.

[colliehauler]

Toolguy5 wrote:
Thanks to all for all your kind words. After a moderate night rest still not completely sure on our path.
Walter you are correct that we do not have much faith in existing truck. It was a great truck until the work with the glow plugs.
I can say the people that came to our rescue are great. M&M tire and Mechanical services in Birmingham. They towed us and escorted us to a small campground. Helped us get set up and offered us rides to anywhere we want to go for food. The campground is owned by the Mayor of Brookside, Alabama where it is located. The Mayor was by 3 times last night to check on us. He also gave us his home number, cell number and office number. Same offer if we need anything call him. The last time he stopped by he brought the deputy chief of police to introduce him. He as well gave us his card and extended the same. So far they have been our angels.
Not sure exactly what we will do yet. But I suppose we will figure it out.

It sounds like you got VIP treatment from the town.

[dogdiva]

WOW You did get some "angels" on your side Glad to hear that there are nice folks out there

[Toolguy5]

Thanks to all for all your kind words. After a moderate night rest still not completely sure on our path.
Walter you are correct that we do not have much faith in existing truck. It was a great truck until the work with the glow plugs.
I can say the people that came to our rescue are great. M&M tire and Mechanical services in Birmingham. They towed us and escorted us to a small campground. Helped us get set up and offered us rides to anywhere we want to go for food. The campground is owned by the Mayor of Brookside, Alabama where it is located. The Mayor was by 3 times last night to check on us. He also gave us his home number, cell number and office number. Same offer if we need anything call him. The last time he stopped by he brought the deputy chief of police to introduce him. He as well gave us his card and extended the same. So far they have been our angels.
Not sure exactly what we will do yet. But I suppose we will figure it out.

[dturm]

I think a lot of us have stories, but fortunately for us ours wasn't nearly as harrowing as yours. We did breakdown on I-80 just on the south side of the Chicago area, talk about busy. This was a brand new motorhome and the engine computer chip decided to malfunction. Dead everything!! We were able to coast to the shoulder. Of course it was a Sunday, but the road service got there in a reasonable time. The only Ford dealership that worked on motorhomes was in Peotone, about a 50 mile tow.

Not a pleasant experience, but it has become a good story with the passage of time.

I hope what farmerjon, Walter and Charles said comes to pass. New truck, no problems and we'll see you at the Old Fella Rally.

[DOTLDaddy]

Dan & Patty, when you finally get home and have had a chance to relax, cool down and decompress, I think then you can make the right decisions concerning your truck and future camping.

If I were you at this point, rightly or wrongly I would have little confidence in my present truck. I have always had excellent service from GM trucks, so I would consider them in the mix. I am not brand loyal, however, so I would look at all brands.

We are hopeful that after the stress of this fiasco has passed, you and Patty will still be out there camping!/ 🙂

[dogdiva]

It sound like Good Sam hasn't changed.....I had an issue with the awning on the slide and couldn't pull the slide in( fortunately I was in a campground at the time) Good Sam insisted I move the camper ,,,,,,and after a screaming match they got the picture that I couldn't move it and sent some one out
I cancelled everything with Good Sam
It sure is frustrating but you had your camper to stay in and that's better than being stranded naked on the road

[Farmerjon]

Dan and Patty.
That's horrible.
"This to will pass"
but don't you wish it didn't take so long.
Try to make lemon aid with the lemons you've been given.
I hope you guys are doing alright during all of this.
May God bless you.

[cimac]

That is tough Dan. Been down on the side of the road with ours once with the traffic screaming by did not feel good. Sounds like they did not get the head sealed and leaked out the coolant. Tell Patty that the new truck will fix the problem and we will see her at the next Old Fella Rally.

[Dixie_Flyer]

Dan I am sorry to hear of your and Patty's troubles. I know with your faith you will look back of this and remember how it all worked itself out using good judgment and patient as a guide.

[Toolguy5]

Well what a disaster.
Started on our way today. Everything going good we thought. Got about 250 miles just outside Birmingham Alabama. Coolant warning came on. Tried to get to a point where I could stop, but before I could get to side of highway temperature pegged at 260. Let it sit while I called goodsam roadside assistance, what a joke. Needed to give my whol life story before she could say they could help. After 40 minutes I decided to walk to gas station and get some coolant. On my way back GoodSam called backed said it would be $95 an hour for some one to come out. With 4 lanes of traffic sipping by us at 70 plus miles an hour scary situation. I said just get somebody here. Well after 3 hours some one finally showed up to look then had to call two tow trucks.
They towed us to their service shop then towed us to a campground. Not your RV resort but descent. But the owners and workers for shop really nice people. They are willing to do what ever they can to help us.
While this is going on the garage that worked on my truck called and wanted to know how it was going. Now we are arguing back and forth on who is at fault and how to fix.
But now we are resting in our camper trying to figure out our next move.
I don't wish that on anyone. Sitting alongside of a highway 4 lanes at that. In the sun no one stops to offer assistance. Oh yeah one person did.
Oh yeah Patty says she is done camping.

[Dashonthedash]

ANy of you Ohio FOOFs ever been to John Bryan or Buck Creek State Park? What do you think of them?

[Dashonthedash]

I have a pair of jack stands that I was just tossing out. Would they help?