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

[mkc]

Dixie Flyer wrote:

Sue and I have been talking about a motorhome so she could do some of the driving. We had about given up on the idea until she saw the Foretravel we bought.

Richard,

It's been years since I followed the Old Fella thread - early on we had sent you a seat belt harness for him; not sure if it worked or not.

Anyway - please consider joining us over on ForeForums for discussions on all things Foretravel. It doesn't compete or replace RV.net in any way, it's just a Foretravel-specific forum (with over 3000 members).

Michelle

[Farmerjon]

Dashonthedash wrote:

Farmerjon wrote:
Our dog run with the lawnmower (twice a day) was interesting this morning. I drive the mower and the 3 dogs run with me . Quincy's diabetes has blinded her but she enjoys trotting and running on our lanes and paths. This morning she started to go off trail and Bree bumped her back into the center and did that over and over as we ran along. It was interesting. She was actually looking out for her buddy.

Is Bree a herding dog?

Bree and Quincy are both Dobermans. That's why it was so surprising to see her herding Quincy into the center of the lane.

[CA_POPPY]

I wouldn't let Buddy anywhere near that truck! :B

[Dashonthedash]

Farmerjon wrote:
Our dog run with the lawnmower (twice a day) was interesting this morning. I drive the mower and the 3 dogs run with me . Quincy's diabetes has blinded her but she enjoys trotting and running on our lanes and paths. This morning she started to go off trail and Bree bumped her back into the center and did that over and over as we ran along. It was interesting. She was actually looking out for her buddy.

Is Bree a herding dog?

[Uppercrust]

Very nice!

[Dixie_Flyer]

Sue's new truck.

[Farmerjon]

Our dog run with the lawnmower (twice a day) was interesting this morning. I drive the mower and the 3 dogs run with me . Quincy's diabetes has blinded her but she enjoys trotting and running on our lanes and paths. This morning she started to go off trail and Bree bumped her back into the center and did that over and over as we ran along. It was interesting. She was actually looking out for her buddy.

[Dashonthedash]

I just came back from an hour at the dog park. Both dogs are tired and laid out. It may not last, but at least the house is quiet and all of us are happy.

[Farmerjon]

Richard. Do you put Buddy in a kennel overnight and during the day when you can't watch him?
Quincy was a very hyper dog and it sure worked for her.
Today her soft kennel is her hydee hole and she sleeps in it every night for a few minutes or even all night long depending on how long she wants to stay in it before crawling into bed with us.

Gary said
"I don't agree with taping the mouth. Training should always be a positive thing. Positive reinforcement training promotes better long-term behavior and a stronger bond between dog and human."
I agree with that and I sure don't like the muzzle wrapping and sit stay for 4hrs. Placing the stuffing in the mouth with the mouth wrapped shut was dangerous.
Richard Buddy is not unusual and he can get past this but it takes some work.
We have had berserk border collies and they do get past it.
We had to go out and buy a 6ft tall chain link dog kennel to contain them when we couldn't be supervising them.
It wasn't a permanent solution the training and the dogs gaining maturity helped them to outgrow the need for it.
Buddy can become a wonderful dog.

[Dixie_Flyer]

Good morning everyone. It is still raining here so we are waiting out the bad weather so we can get outside with the fur gang. I don't know about putting a piece of the carpet in Buddy's mouth and taping it shut. What's to keep him from getting choked or just swallowing the piece of carpet. That seems a little harsh to me.

At this point I don't know if we can keep Buddy any longer. Last night was a bad night as he was rambunctious and kept something stirred up during the early morning hours. He wanted to play with Peaches and Peaches wanted to sleep so there was a lot of growling and barking going on. I finally got up to let him out when Peaches bolted out thinking maybe she was leaving Buddy behind. On the way down the stairs they both tumbled down to the bottom step with Peaches yelping in pain.

Today I will spend time trying to find a home for Buddy or a shelter that will take him. Old Fella doesn't have any foster homes available so they can't take him. He needs the rest of his shots to be eligible for a transport to Salem Mass. and there isn't enough time to get that done by next week and beside the transport is full right now, so unless one drops out there is no room for Buddy.

We are down to one vehicle as Sue's old car which is now mine is in the shop and won't be ready until Friday, so I am limited to when I have wheels and can get around. While the weather is bad I don't dare take one of the Old Lincolns out for fear something could happen and then I would have a damaged car that most likely couldn't be repaired. 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.

[Dashonthedash]

I don't agree with taping the mouth. Training should always be a positive thing. Positive reinforcement training promotes better long-term behavior and a stronger bond between dog and human.

[dogdiva]

the tape is not tight enuf to hurt the skin, just to keep the mouth closed

[dwb619]

What is the difference in "cotton tape' and using the duct tape like that creep in Charleston, South Carolina .
I AM sorry, but it sounds like ABUSE to me!

[dogdiva]

the first thing you need to do is get Buddy Neutered
then an obedience class, for control

I came home from work one day and it looked like it had snowed in my living room
Dixie, my dobie had chewed the sofa and all the white stuffing was scattered all over the room....I had just started obedience class with her so I called the instructor and this is what we did.....
wrapped her snout and mouth with cotton tape so she couldn't open her mouth, put a piece of the chewed material in her mouth before wrapping it.
Put her on a sit/stay for 4 hours......of course i had to be right w ith her to keep her on the sit stay as she would try to get up....IT WORKED SHE NEVER CHEWED ANOTHER THING,,,,,,You have to make sure the wrapping goes around the neck and muzzle as they will try to pull it off with the paws
you can use strips of old sheets for the cotton tape

[vickiebec]

That could be the reason he was put out to find a new home.