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

[Toolguy5]

Dale glad your Mom and Sister are well.

I would be furious with that nurse and facility.

[dturm]

The behavior of the health "professionals" was appalling. I'm glad things are looking up, at 95 even minor incidends can become major.

That trip back to Indiana brought back memories. I hope we never have to do that again!!

[Scottiemom]

Sorry I didn't mean to scare everyone. But at 95, anything can happen. So thankful our prayers were answered and Mom is back home doing well.

Dale

[DOTLDaddy]

Yikes!!! Reading your story, I was fearful that it was going to have a bad ending. I am happy it did not. 🙂

[Scottiemom]

Last Saturday we left Baton Rouge and drove the motorhome to Theodore, Alabama, and left her in Payne's RV park. We have visited them before and they were very accommodating about us leaving her there for a week or more. Since the car was packed with all manor of stuff we dragged out of the Texas place to take to Florida, we unloaded the car and put it all in the motorhome. Then we got our suitcases out and loaded them with clothes and everything else we would need for a trip to Indiana. My Mom (almost 95) was in the hospital and my sister was fearful things were not going well.

We drove from near Mobile to Warsaw, Indiana in 2 days, one night on the road and I visited Mom that day. She was doing better. One of my sister's dogs has "scratched" her arm. He "mouthed" her, not a bite. But it tore the skin every so slightly. My sister had cleaned it and bandaged it and didn't look at it for 2 days. . . . she got cellulitis in it. So they had her in the hospital for a few days. One of the nurses tending to her was sick and my sister asked her to wear a mask when in the room and around Mom. She refused. Mom came home from the hospital, arm healed, but went back into the ER that night with respiratory problems and flu like symptoms. That was when she got worse. So we drove up and were there 5 nights. I actually got to bring her home Thursday. By this time my sister was sick from that same nurse. We did raise a stink about it and the CEO of the hospital came to pay us a visit. I wasn't kind to that nurse. All she had to do was wear a mask, but instead she infected both my mom and sister with the same respiratory illness. Both are better now. Mom is doing well and Nita is much better. So yesterday we started back to Alabama. We arrived about 4:30 today. We had eaten an early supper which was good to do because now everything is put away and we are relaxing at 6 p.m.

Thank goodness Mom is a strong fiesty 95-year old. She is 4'10" and only about 88 pounds. Wouldn't think she could fight much off, but she is a fighter. She lives in her own park model in my sister's woods, just down the lane from each other. So all is well once again and we resume our journey to our Florida home tomorrow.

God bless everyone!

Dale

[Dixie_Flyer]

Good morning everyone. I have a wedding coming up this weekend, Hope I will be able to see to do it. Where is Spring? it's still cold here and the nights are still in the 30's.

At least we are bit freezing at night, I am ready for some warm weather. I hope all is well with everyone. I remember the spring of 1964, I had so many things to look forward to. It was a new beginning for me in many areas. We were expecting a new baby in November. It was the beginning of the new season for NASCAE. And I was looking forward to going back to school for and advanced course in automotive engineering. It was a fun filled year with lots of new learning curves.

I am now past those years and can't remember what it was I was supposed to learn. All I remember is the school was difficult I was able to apply what I was learning in school to put to practical use in the filed. TDC was a term I remember. Top Dead center. The torque of a main bearing on a 390 engine is 105 pounds. Timing was set at 8 degrees unless you wanted better performance then we set it at 12 degrees as long as you didn't get spark knock or pre-ignition which would burn a hole in the top of a piston. The 427 engine was just beginning to be used for racing and we found out just what an awesome engine it was. Anyway that is just a few things that was going on back then. 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.

[Toolguy5]

Richard glad they rescheduled surgery for Monday again.
Prayers that all goes well.


Spring is on its way. We will be near 60 Sunday and Monday. But then back to more normal temps.

[Dixie_Flyer]

Good morning everyone. Today is another day of sunshine. What a beautiful morning. My granddaughter's wedding is just a few days away. I have a back up minister if my surgery doesn't go well. So pray for me that all goes as planned and the wedding comes off without a hitch. Looking forward to better days ahead. 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]

Good morning everyone. Surgery on Monday was postponed. I was told I would be called when the doctor is ready for my surgery. This is so frustrating. My PMR is really working on me. So much going on all at same time. This morning I didn't want to get out of bed. Sue gets frustrated with me and tries to make me force myself to do things That I really don't feel like doing. Her argument is I need to be active in order to get better. The problem is if you don't feel like doing something or feel as if the pain is more than what you achieve then where is t worth it. Anyway tat is what is going on here at Camp Dixie.

I am getting worn down. I don't know what tomorrow holds but I know who holds all my tomorrows. God will always be with me no matter what. I hope all is well with everyone. I got a phone call last night from Ernie Jordan a dear friend that moved to New Hampshire two years ago and I really miss his advise and support he gave. 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 tem. Just got a phone call from the doctor that the surgery was back on for Monday at 1:pm.

[Martyn]

Hope all goes well with surgery on Monday.

[Dixie_Flyer]

Good morning everyone. I am having a terrible time seeing, I am guessing as I type. I am typing blind as I cannot see the key board on the computer. So when you see misspelled words at least you know I am trying. Hopefully surgery on Monday will correct this problem I am having right now. Anyway I am getting frustrated right now 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. I have gone back over the post and don't see any typos right now so I will close and whish you a bleseed day.

[MetalGator]

Thank you all for the kind words. I still have my moments where I have a "Murphy Moment". Had one last night.

The other dogs are still acting strange. Monty has been very quiet lately. He just lays in the "dog room" we have. I believe they are mourning and missing Murphy as well. Thank God I have other dogs. It would be much harder without them. Murphy was always the first one at the front door waiting for me when I get home from work. Now Monty's sister Lola has taken that job. She was all wiggling and wagging her tail at the front door yesterday when I got home.

It will be much easier to travel with Murphy gone. I feel guilty thinking/saying that but Murphy demanded a lot of attention and I never felt comfortable leaving her in the TT/Motorhome at night. She would do fine during that day (she would just sleep) but at night she would bark if we left. Now it will be possible to go out for an occasional dinner once and awhile and not have to be worrying about her barking. The other dogs are fine in the motorhome.

Burch

[DOTLDaddy]

Burch and Donna, very nice indeed.

[Toolguy5]

Very nice tribute Burch.

Our loved ones always live on in our hearts.

[Scottiemom]

Lovely tribute to Murphy. Hoping your days get better and your memories strong.

Dale