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

[Dixie_Flyer]

[Dixie_Flyer]

[Dixie_Flyer]

Good morning everyone. Some of you will be leaving for Sevierville tomorrow and perhaps some of you are already on the road. Looking forward to seeing you Monday when we get there.

This will be the first time since 2005 that we are traveling with just one dog. Suzie is so active at her age its hard to believe she has so much energy and gets around like a much younger dog. Yesterday she came into the camper with me while I was loading for the trip. She came up the steps just like a two year old and exited the same way. You can tell she misses Hobo when things get quiet in the house. She goes to Hobo's bed and sniffs it and lays down beside it, not on it. Izzie has taken one of the beds that Hobo would sometimes sleep on so Suzie doesn't bother with that one.

The weather in Sevierville is going to be nice during the day light hours and at night it is going to be cold. Not much rain in the forecast so we will have a great time.

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.

[DOTLDaddy]

That was a very nice story about Mama and Hobo. Thanks for sharing. 🙂

[Dixie_Flyer]

Back in 2009 I received a phone call from a Mr. Cyrus Staples Trecartin. He was about to enter the hospital for an extended stay and requested help in taking care of his animals. He planned to return home, but really didn't know if he would survive the stay at the hospital. I was told he had two dogs named Mama and Hobo and forty cats. I agreed to help out. I contacted Bruce then president of The Old Fella Burke County Animal Rescue and the work began. Every day someone went out to Mr. Cy's home in Burke county to feed the two dogs and forty cats. Bruce found a broken pipe that ran from the outside well into the house and repaired it. This went on for a month and then we realized Mr. Trecartin wasn't coming home as he had hoped. I went out to the house and got Mama and carried her to the vet to be bathed and checked over for anything that might be going on with her. I was told she had so many fleas they had to bath her three times to get rid of all them and the water ran red after the first two baths she was so infested.


Meanwhile back at the house Hobo was still there as we couldn't catch her. Sue and I went everyday from November on into 2009 of the next year feeding cats and trying to catch Hobo. Finally on a Saturday I was able to catch Hobo and bring her home. She and Mama hadn't seen each other for three weeks so it was a great reunion for them when Hobo arrived. We continued to feed the cats daily until all, every single one of them had been adopted.

One day I was going to feed the cats and decided to Take Mama with me. The moment I turned down the driveway going to the house Mama got excited. When I stopped the truck and opened the door Mama bailed out and ran to the front porch where she began to scratch at the door and bark waiting on My. Cy to open the door. When Mr, Cy didn't come Mama left the porch and put her nose to the ground and circled the house. When she didn't pick up a fresh scent of Mr. Cy she went back to the truck and climbed in knowing her beloved man was not there.

About a week later I decided to take Mama back out to Mr. CY's to feed the cats. When I turned down the driveway, Mama didn't move. When I stopped the truck and opened the door Mama didn't get out. She knew My. Cy was gone and was not coming back. Mama lived to be fifteen years old before the crossed the bridge. This week Hobo, her daughter joined her and perhaps the three of them are rejoicing together, Mama, Hobo and Mr. Cy.

[Dixie_Flyer]

Kevin and Marissa wrote:
I haven't been on in a while. So sorry to hear about Hobo.

I ran across this and wanted to share it here:

https://www.quora.com/Is-it-better-to-be-with-your-pet-when-put-to-sleep/answer/Iva-Izabela?srid=hoE...

Thanks so much for the link. It touched my heart and I agree that when your fur baby is about to leave the one he or she loves should be there with them.

[Kevin_and_Maris]

I haven't been on in a while. So sorry to hear about Hobo.

I ran across this and wanted to share it here:

https://www.quora.com/Is-it-better-to-be-with-your-pet-when-put-to-sleep/answer/Iva-Izabela?srid=hoE...

[Dixie_Flyer]

Good morning everyone. It is going to be a cool day today with the temp in the lower 70's. We are fine just missing Hobo. Suzie and Izzie have been worried about her and can't figure out what happened to her. Sue has taken Hobo's passing pretty hard. She and Hobo were very close.

Just a few more days and we will be leaving for the Old Fella Rally. Looking forward to getting out of the house and away from every thing.

I hope all is well with everyone and you are looking forward to a blessed weekend. I need to get moving so I will close for now wishing everyone a blessed weekend. Be sure to give the fur babies a hug for me and be sure to tell someone you love them.

[Dashonthedash]

"It came to me that every time I lose a dog they take a piece of my heart with them, and every new dog who comes into my life gifts me with a piece of their heart. If I live long enough all the components of my heart will be dog, and I will become as generous and loving as they are." - Anonymous

[Dixie_Flyer]

Thank you Jim for your words of encouragement. Many times I have felt Sue and I were the ones rescued. So many fur babies have passed through our lives each one leaving a mark on and in our hearts. I wouldn't change one moment we have spent with the fur babies for silver or gold. There has been special ones that have touched us in a way that is hard to explain. Hobo was a special girl, She wasn't the sharpest one in the pack but she really left us in awe with her love and trust. When she came to us she had not been socialized. It was very oblivious from the beginning contact with humans had been limited. Mama became her teacher and guardian. Whatever Mama did, Hobo followed. It took two years for hobo to really adjust to life with a family. We never heard her bark until she had been with us for two years. She was timid and so eager to please and did not want any attention brought to her. When she would approach me she would do so with head bowed down approaching very slowly until she felt my hand touching her and then she would know I was accepting her, then she would lift her head and wag her tail. Such a sweet spirit and so loving.

She will always live in my heart as one to the most precious fur babies we ever had.

[TugCE]

Richard, I will never forget to day that I stumbled over this part of the forum and found this thread. I have read this page every time that I come to the forum and can not tell you how much it has changed me.

I have shared your story of Old Fella with many fellow pet lovers, some of them have joined rv.net just so they could read it for themselves.

As you have just said in your last post about seeing if another "Buddy" might show up really hit home for me. 12 years ago, my DW and I were trying to adopt / rescue a Pup. We had visited so very many and nothing clicked. The DW said that this was the last one and if she does not at least come to her and show some type of love she was done looking for a while. Well, as soon as we walked in Macy ran right up to my wife wagging her entire body and gave her a big kiss. Needless to say she left with us that day. We wanted to rescue a pup to help me as I had had back surgery and we thought that if we got a Pup it would make me get up and move and it did!

I always say, that while we rescued Macy, She Rescued me also!

You Both have shown so much Love to so many Pups and Kitties over the years and I'm sure that if it's meant to be, another needy Pup will come to you. Until then, I'm sure that Suzie and Izzie will do their best to fill the void and give extra love as I know you will do for them as they grieve.

Puppy Hugs and Kisses to You, from my Furry Girls Macy and Sandi.

[Dixie_Flyer]

Good morning everyone. I have been thinking a lot about the fur babies we have had and have come to some conclusions. They all were sent to us and we took them in. We didn't chose them but rather we were selected by a higher power to care for them. Bart, our Dobie was given to us by daughter Ava. Levi, the Australian Shepard was given to us by daughter Allison. Old Fella was a gift from God. Charlie picked us out when he by himself climbed into my truck at the shelter. Mama and Hobo were from the man who had the forty cats and we were summoned to help out while he was in the hospital and didn't come home. Peaches was given to us by daughter Robin when she could no longer care for her. Buddy took up at the house when we were at an Old Fella Rally and stayed there until we got home two weeks later. The amazing thing about all of this is they were perfect companions for us. Well Buddy went to live with grandson Joshua which was a perfect fit for his family.

So I think we will wait to see what God has in mind for us concerning another fur baby. Maybe while we are gone to this years Old Fella Rally another Buddy will show up at the house and wait for us to get home.

The camper is hooked to the truck and today I will pull it up on the driveway and start loading it for our trip to Sevierville. Looking forward to this years 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 be sure to tell someone you love them.

Thanks for all the words of comfort concerning Hobo.

[Scottiemom]

So very sorry about Hobo. She is free of pain now and no doubt greeted by Mama. She had a good run, made much better by "finding" you, Richard.

Dale

[Dashonthedash]

Dixie Flyer wrote:


Seems like yesterday this picture was taken.

Yeah, I know how you feel...

[MetalGator]

I always get a lump in my throat when I see this thread has a bunch on new messages in a short time. So sorry to hear about Hobo. It's so hard when we lose are friends.

Burch