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

[Dashonthedash]

The campground owner was nice enough to fix my door for me this morning. All he needed were a wrench, a drill and a pop rivet gun.

[Dixie_Flyer]

Good morning everybody. Gosh Gary, it sounds like Dan's luck and Dan's luck has rubbed off on you. Maybe I should continue to stay home with the camper and not venture out any time soon.

Sue and I do plan a trip to Michigan the end of June. This most likely will be our last long trip any where. We will continue to camp close to home such as state parks or Corps of Engineer parks and of course the Old Fella Rally in October. At my age I don't want to become one of those drivers that is talked about around campfires or dinner tables that should not be driving.

Suzie was up most of the night with the runs. That makes me wonder what is going on with Peaches doing the same thing the other night. Suzie was kind enough to let me know she needed to go outside so there wasn't a mess in the house. I tell you, for a dumpster dog she is really a smart little cookie. It really goes to show if a dog is raise in the home and treated as part of the family they can be very smart companions.

Okay I need to get moving so I will close for now wishing everyone a blessed day. Be sure to give the fur babies a hug for me and tell someone you love them.

[Dashonthedash]

Had a bit of a setback today. Besides running into terrible road conditions on I-70 in Illinois and Indiana, I stopped at a rest area in Indiana, where it was very windy. Wind pulled the door open and ripped the door closer right out of the door. I was able to remove the closer so I can open and close the door. Aside from the rivets in the bracket and door broken, there doesn't seem to be any other damage.

I'm staying at a small RV park in Richmond, Indiana. I was going to try to make it to Buck Creek State Park, but too tired. There is a Camping World nearby, but their service department was closed, and I don't want to delay my trip in the morning. I need to get to Kooser State Park in Western Pennsylvania. Since the door is usable as is, I'll just wait until the trip is finished, and I have plenty of time for repairs.

[Toolguy5]

Dashonthedash wrote:
Hello, folks.I'm in Lawrence, Kansas, on Clinton Lake, ready to start the next leg of my trip. Everything is holding up, including me, except one of my windshield washer hoses broke near the water outlet. I was able to slip the broken end over the outlet and covered it with duct tape, so I should be good. Shadow is enjoying the trip and shifting from couch to bed.

Stay safe. Hope you have no more trouble.

[Toolguy5]

cimac wrote:
We are leaving Saturday, heading out to Branson for a week, then a long loop up thru South Dakota and back down thru Colorado. A little over a months trip. A little concerned about my 15 yr. old Oreo, but it would kill her to be left as well. Looking forward to the Rally in October as well.

Have fun enjoy and stay safe.

[Dixie_Flyer]

Good morning everyone. It is a beautiful morning here in the Deep South at the foot Hills of the Smoky Mountains. Everything is very green with the rain we have had. The fur gang is fine this morning waiting on the old man to take them for a walk.

The 73 Lincoln is coming along okay. I haven't been able to find a plastic panel for the drivers door, however I am sure one can be made to fit. I was able to find wire wheels for the 73 which will make a great addition to the car. These are rare and have the Lincoln medallion in the center of the cap. Real wire wheels not hub caps, boy am I excited to see them on the car.

Also I was able to find the factory fabric for the truck and was able to get enough to redo both the 72 and 73 so the interior of the trunk will look brand new. Yesterday was a break through with the vent window on the 73 as the glass was inside the door unbroken. So that can be put back in place.

The Old Fella Rescue has reach a crisis in needing help. Too many dogs, not enough people to help. Margie is at her wits end trying to keep things together. There is a large transport due out soon but being over crowded and few people makes it hard on animals and people.

I suggested they have a rally in Waynesboro to raise awareness of what is needed and hopefully people will respond.

Okay I need to get moving so I will close for now wishing everyone a blessed day. Be sure to give the fur babies a hug for me and tell someone today you love them.

[Dandy_Dan]

cimac wrote:
We are leaving Saturday, heading out to Branson for a week, then a long loop up thru South Dakota and back down thru Colorado. A little over a months trip. A little concerned about my 15 yr. old Oreo, but it would kill her to be left as well. Looking forward to the Rally in October as well.

Be Careful, Stay Safe and make sure you have a big load of Fun.

[Dixie_Flyer]

Have fun and be careful,

[cimac]

We are leaving Saturday, heading out to Branson for a week, then a long loop up thru South Dakota and back down thru Colorado. A little over a months trip. A little concerned about my 15 yr. old Oreo, but it would kill her to be left as well. Looking forward to the Rally in October as well.

[Dashonthedash]

Hello, folks.I'm in Lawrence, Kansas, on Clinton Lake, ready to start the next leg of my trip. Everything is holding up, including me, except one of my windshield washer hoses broke near the water outlet. I was able to slip the broken end over the outlet and covered it with duct tape, so I should be good. Shadow is enjoying the trip and shifting from couch to bed.

[Dixie_Flyer]

Good morning everyone. Dan I am glad you and Patty made it home, Now for the new adventure in buying a new truck.

It is raining here this morning. Everything is so pretty and green. I made a temporary repair on the lawnmower regarding the muffler that will hold up until the fall. I made d bracket to hold it in place and it looks as if it will hold.

The fur gang is doing fine. Sue is out early going to the hospital for an exam, nothing wrong just something that needs to be done.

Margie from Old Fella Rescue says the group is struggling with foster homes and volunteers to help in other areas. I suggested they hold another dinner rally in town to tell the folks what they have accomplished and what their future plans are. The local fire department has always helped with the cooking of the hamburgers and hot dogs and the First National Bank has always been generous in providing the rescue with the building to hold the rally.

Okay I need to get moving so I will close for now wishing everyone a blessed day. Be sure to give the give the fur babies a hug for me and tell someone you love them.

[Toolguy5]

Good morning everyone. We made it home around 7pm yesterday. Thank God for our wonderful friends who rescued us! It was a trip we hope to never experience again.
Pickles is glad to be home....she had to check out back yard and keep her eye on us in case we were leaving again!
We only took neccessary things out of camper last night and today we have alot to unload! Soon will be shopping for another truck. Everyone have a great day! There's no place like home! Patty 🙂

[Dixie_Flyer]

Good morning everyone. It is cold here this morning with cloudy skies. Peaches was sick this morning, what a mess to clean up. I hope its is just a passing thing, but we will keep and eye on her today to see how she does.

The other fur babies are well and healthy. Dan and Patty have a safe trip home and Gary you also as you travel to your new home. Work on the 73 Lincoln is coming along. It's not happening as fast as I would like, but then being careful makes a repair better. The indicator for "P,R,N,D,2,1," for the transmission is broken. The guy working on the car seems to think he can fix it, However if he can not I have found a digital indicator that will fit into the same area as the old one so all will be well with that. I have the rest of the parts coming in that we know we need right now. I am sure something else will show up before it's done.

Our daughter Ava is getting another Boxer puppy. Furgie needs company to keep her out of trouble. She is wide open time she wakes up until she goes to bed at night. Lily, our neighbor's dog is such a cutie. I really like her a lot. She thinks this is her second home and will come over and bark at the front door until we let her in. When she is ready to go home she will go to the door and bark to be let out. She comes over to check things out and sometimes to sit in my lap to take a nap.

Last evening I went to the pond and saw a large beaver swimming in the water. He, or she slapped its tail to let me know I was seen. I watched as it swam in circles ever watching me to see what I was up to. The beavers have cut down a very large amount of small pine trees and carried them somewhere they can't be seen.

Okay I need to get moving so I will close for now wishing everyone a blessed day. Be sure to give the fur babies a hug for me and tell someone you love them.

[Dixie_Flyer]

Good morning everyone. This morning I feel out of it. I am weak and tired. My blood sugar was a bit low but not enough to cause the way I feel.

The girls are fine. Izzie is somewhere in the house I haven't seen or heard from him since I got up. Sue is feeling well and very active this morning. I have to get out this morning and find some parts for the 73 Lincoln and then check on the progress that is being made with it.

Cutting the grass the other day I snagged the muffler on the old Christmas tree that is lying on the trash pile and pulled it off the exhaust pipe. I have tried putting it back on but it keeps pulling loose so I have bought an "L" bracket that I will fasten to the heat plate behind the muffler to hold it in place until next fall when I take the lawnmower into the shop for maintenance.

Old Fella Rescue is having trouble finding foster homes. I heard from Margie and she is frustrated that she is having to foster 18 dogs at her house with no help. I guess people get burned out after a while and back away. I hope she is able to find some help before she gets burned out.

Dan and Patty I hope you make it home okay. Boy what an experience and story you will have to tell us in October at the Old Fella Rally.

Okay I need to get moving so I will close for now wishing everyone a blessed day. Be sure to give the fur babies a hug for me and tell someone you love them.

[Dixie_Flyer]

Today was a sad one as we buried a friend Randy Landreth. Randy was just 46 years old leaving a wife and daughter to pick up the shattered pieces and carry on.

Randy died of a broken heart. He just stopped eating and withered away in a matter of a few short months. In his latter days it was also discovered he had cancer. Randy was a gentle man who loved the Lord but who had a fragile spirit. He will be greatly missed.