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

[CA_POPPY]

Wherever Buddy ends up, I hope he will be neutered soon. Those raging hormones are probably not helping a bit. I feel so bad for Sue, too, as I know how it is to lose those lifetime treasures that have such special meaning.

[Dandy_Dan]

Dixie Flyer wrote:
Today was an exciting day and then it was a disaster for Buddy. First Sue bought he a new Ford F150 pickup truck. It is a beauty, Ruby Red crew cab with a short box with most of the bells and whistles. She will have to go to college to get a degree to learn how to operate the thing. Got home let Buddy out of the kennel crate and took him outside from some exercise and then came back inside. I sat in my recliner and dosed off to sleep, I woke to the sound of chewing and tearing. I looked in the direction the noise was coming from to find Buddy had torn up, chewed up and destroyed one of Sue's prized rugs, one that cannot be replaced.
It was immediate and it was ugly my response to what I knew would be the last straw for Sue. Buddy's care and fostering had come to an end. I called the Old Fella Burke County Animal Rescue and tried to book Buddy on the next transport to Salem Mass. The transport leaves November 10th, not enough time to get Buddy's shots. The next transport is in December when Joshua and his wife Maddie will be coming back stateside, so the decision was to keep Buddy until they returned. Of course this means no turning our backs on Buddy at any time and watching him more closely than before. I am going to rig a rope to the lawn tractor and run Buddy up and down the road until his tongue is hanging out about five times a day or until [1] I run out of gas or [2] I get tired and my tongue is hanging out.

Richard, doesn't someone offer obedience training in your area. You might find that with some professional contact, Buddy may be turned into a better obedient dog and save some of the destruction. Don't you think that it would be a great gift to Joshua and Maddie to come home to a trained obedient dog? I don't believe you want to pass the destruction onto the kids.

[Dashonthedash]

What is it about puppies that attract them to rugs? Hannah is also a carpet connoiseur. It brings to mind a quote I have often heard from my dog-lover friends: "Why we can't have nice things". Dash was the most destructive pup this side of Marley, but he grew into one of the best dogs. Patience and watchfulness (and lots of work) are the keys (and the willingness to forgive). Good luck to you, Sue and Buddy.

[Dixie_Flyer]

Today was an exciting day and then it was a disaster for Buddy. First Sue bought he a new Ford F150 pickup truck. It is a beauty, Ruby Red crew cab with a short box with most of the bells and whistles. She will have to go to college to get a degree to learn how to operate the thing. Got home let Buddy out of the kennel crate and took him outside from some exercise and then came back inside. I sat in my recliner and dosed off to sleep, I woke to the sound of chewing and tearing. I looked in the direction the noise was coming from to find Buddy had torn up, chewed up and destroyed one of Sue's prized rugs, one that cannot be replaced.
It was immediate and it was ugly my response to what I knew would be the last straw for Sue. Buddy's care and fostering had come to an end. I called the Old Fella Burke County Animal Rescue and tried to book Buddy on the next transport to Salem Mass. The transport leaves November 10th, not enough time to get Buddy's shots. The next transport is in December when Joshua and his wife Maddie will be coming back stateside, so the decision was to keep Buddy until they returned. Of course this means no turning our backs on Buddy at any time and watching him more closely than before. I am going to rig a rope to the lawn tractor and run Buddy up and down the road until his tongue is hanging out about five times a day or until [1] I run out of gas or [2] I get tired and my tongue is hanging out.

[Dixie_Flyer]

Dashonthedash wrote:
I couldn't find that exact quote, but you did say, "He waited with faith that someday his turn would come and his faith was rewarded." Here's a link to the page with the quote:

quote

That was close enough, thanks.

[Dashonthedash]

I couldn't find that exact quote, but you did say, "He waited with faith that someday his turn would come and his faith was rewarded." Here's a link to the page with the quote:

quote

[Dixie_Flyer]

Help me find in the forum where I said about Old Fella, "It is now his turn." I need this quote for an article being written about Old Fella.

[Dashonthedash]

Hannah is a perpetual motion machine. She never learned the Laws of Thermodynamics :B

[DOTLDaddy]

Dashonthedash wrote:
...I'm headed back to the dog park today, hoping I can eventually tire her out...

If Hannah is like Inga, then being "tired out" only lasts about 15 minutes or so. 😛

[Dixie_Flyer]

It is raining here very hard. There will be no outdoor actvities today.

[Dashonthedash]

You certainly gotta love these dogs and their personalities. One of my buddies on the GSD List explained that Hannah is "tattling" when she gets me up when Shadow moves. If she is going to sleep, then everyone in the house has to be asleep. It's a German Shepherd thing. I'm headed back to the dog park today, hoping I can eventually tire her out, but I'm not too optimistic.

[Dixie_Flyer]

Good morning everyone. Buddy is walking around with a toy in his mouth whining wanting someone anyone, anybody, somebody to play with him. There is so much going on especially at night when folks and pets are supposed to be asleep. Buddy is running through the house playing, Peaches is running back and forth wanting to go outside. Suzie is growling at Buddy to leave her alone while Hobo hides in her kennel crate trying to avoid any kind of fall out from all the ruckus that is going on. I hide my head under the pillow trying to get some sleep, but between having to go to the bathroom and all the noise I just don't wake up refreshed.

I just pushed Buddy outside to get away from all the rough house playing and running back and forth. I will pay for this as he will come back inside wet and muddy.

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 be sure to tell someone you love them. Now let me go into the closet, close the door and hide and get some sleep.

[Dashonthedash]

Hannah and Shadow just got back from the dog park. After an hour of running, Hannah is still full of energy. I don't know where she gets it, but I'd love to tap in.

Hannah wakes me up if Shadow needs to go outside in the middle of the night, which isn't often, but it happens. The problem is, Shadow will often get up in the middle of the night to reposition himself on his dog bed, or change beds altogether and, whenever he moves, Hannah tries to get me up.

[MetalGator]

Dixie Flyer wrote:

Dashonthedash wrote:
Richard, hope you're not watching the Georgia game. It's pretty ugly.

I stopped watching and went into the bedroom and hung a shelf in Sue's closet

I thought the game was great! I am a class of '95 graduate of the University of Florida. I have never been to a Florida-Georgia game in Jacksonville. When there were redoing the stadium for the Jacksonville Jaguars, FL-GA played a home and home for 2 years while they worked on the stadium. I was able to see GA play FL in Gainesville in 1994. One of these years I will make it to Jacksonville to see the big game.

Burch

[Dandy_Dan]

det62 wrote:
Try this

When Sarah comes in after being outside with Anna, both are wound up and sort of look like the video except both dogs look like Buddy just roaring through the house.
Truck is at the shop getting spray in liner, hitch rails installed and wiring installed and tonneau cover. Now I need to clean up the head and A Frame and repaint them and have ready to install sometime after truck is back and I can get around.