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]

Robt65 wrote:
When did Old Fella cross over the Rainbow Bridge?

June 28,2008

[Martyn]

Robt65 wrote:
When did Old Fella cross over the Rainbow Bridge?

A very sad day - June 28, 2008.

[Robt65]

When did Old Fella cross over the Rainbow Bridge?

[Dixie_Flyer]

Well we are here at Sevierville. The weather is nice and we have everyone that said they were coming except for the Holifields and they will be here Thursday.

So far things are going great.

[Dixie_Flyer]

Lisaren wrote:
I have followed this thread from the very beginning. For some reason, I decided today to go read the beginning again. During the last 12 years, I have cried with the other members as they lost beloved pets. I have also lost some of my own. Thank you Richard for rescuing an old dog and starting us all on this wonderful journey. Each animal that has passed through this story has touched some or all of us. Each human has done the same. Thank you also to all who have kept the story going. I have checked this thread almost everyday for 12 years, it does not seem that long.

. Thank you for staying with us all these years. There are a lot of loving memories here

[Scottiemom]

Lisaren wrote:
I have followed this thread from the very beginning. For some reason, I decided today to go read the beginning again. During the last 12 years, I have cried with the other members as they lost beloved pets. I have also lost some of my own. Thank you Richard for rescuing an old dog and starting us all on this wonderful journey. Each animal that has passed through this story has touched some or all of us. Each human has done the same. Thank you also to all who have kept the story going. I have checked this thread almost everyday for 12 years, it does not seem that long.

Well said.

Dale

[Lisaren]

I have followed this thread from the very beginning. For some reason, I decided today to go read the beginning again. During the last 12 years, I have cried with the other members as they lost beloved pets. I have also lost some of my own. Thank you Richard for rescuing an old dog and starting us all on this wonderful journey. Each animal that has passed through this story has touched some or all of us. Each human has done the same. Thank you also to all who have kept the story going. I have checked this thread almost everyday for 12 years, it does not seem that long.

[Dixie_Flyer]

Good morning everyone. Fall is really in the air as the morning are cool and fog is as thick as pea soup. The camper is loaded and tomorrow morning we leave for the Old Fella Rally. Dandy Dan called last night to say he was a bit under the weather, but hoped to be on the road this morning.

Things here at home are quiet and we are missing Hobo. Suzie isn't eating her food as she should. She eats some of it and will leave the rest for later on in the day. In the past if she did that Hobo would eat it. So I guess Suzie feels she doesn't have to eat it all at one time since Hobo isn't here.

Sue and I talked about another dog and decided to wait and see what happens. In the past as I have mentioned we haven't had to go looking as there was always one brought to us one way or another. We prefer an older dog that has lost it's home for whatever reason. They seem to make the best fit for us, we'll see.

Tomorrow we plan to be in Sevierville by afternoon. Looking forward to seeing everyone and looking forward to time spent around the campfire.

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.

[Dixie_Flyer]

Sgt Joe in the beginning of the thread there was some interest in a book being written by a woman who wrote a column for a news paper. She did write a so called book that was never published. It was more of a short story you would read in Readers Digest. There was a person on the Jay Leno show who worked real hard at getting the story on his show and it almost made it. It got so serious I had to get an agent to represent the Old Fella story. As time wore on interest wore thin until no one was interested in doing anything. I started writing a book myself but got bogged down and weary of the project.

I feel you are right that in the right hands this could make a great movie and a matter of fact there was some interest according to my agent in making a movie. The Movie Hachia came out and I guess that was enough for the movie industry.

Maybe as time goes on and the story becomes more widespread someone will see the compassion and heartfelt love that is in this story and do something with it.

[SGTJOE]

Richard so sorry to hear about Hobo, but at least she's running with Mama and the rest at Rain Bow Bridge with no pain or aches.

As I read your short story on taking in Mama and Hobo I can't help but think this entire thread would make one great Movie. Have you considered contacting Disney and presenting the idea to them?? Once they read this it should be a hit and I'm betting they would be anxious to produce a wonderful moving out of the past years of this story. There has to be someone in the Movie Industry that would jump on this. This could be a Classic.

[Dixie_Flyer]

[Dixie_Flyer]

[Dixie_Flyer]

[Dixie_Flyer]

[Dixie_Flyer]