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

[SGTJOE]

You're right. In the evenings I walk around my neighborhood and a lot of the dogs know me as I always carry milk bones. One Lab will come running up to me off his leash and without me saying a word he will sit and offer a paw, then he gets his treat. There is some friends who have a bird dog, Struts, who sees me a block away who starts howling until I get there and give him his two treats. Funny thing with him if I miss a day he demands three. Then there is Peaches a little mixed breed girl who lives across the street who comes running over when ever she sees my garage door open. Her mom always checks the street before letting her go. She is so small she only gets half. Then there is Toby who lives up a few houses from me who I have taught to sit before he gets his treat and I send him home with it in his mouth. The highlights of my evening walk was Maggie an old gal who had cancer in her liver and a huge lump on her back just above her tail. She loved laying out on her grass in the front yard. She never left the grass or the sidewalk in front of the house all on her own. She got so use to me coming around the corner she would get up and come rub up against me expressing her love. It really broke my heart when she passed on, but now her owner has a new little guy, a Yorkie who has got so use to my voice that when I call Pam to let her know I'm on my way he hears my voice from the phone and starts barking.

And yes I have a little guy of my own, his name is Rocky Road, a little Shih Tzu and he enjoys his walks and meeting up with the other dogs.

[DOTLDaddy]

Sgtjoe, you are a perfect example of Richard's legacy.

[SGTJOE]

You are right about all he has done. Since I found this forum I have become more alert to loose/lost dogs and as a result have been involved in rescuing a few. One in particular was a young yellow lab me and a friend saw trying to dig into the dirt on a dirt road along a canal. We took our dogs back to Camp and headed back with a leash after telling the Park manager what we found. We were able to get the Lab and put her on the Camp golf cart. It was then we saw that she was pregnant and maybe she was looking for a safe place to have her pups. She was put in the Park shed but after the six of us got together at the managers Mobile Home her husband went and got the Lab to his Mobile Home. The six of us sat there most of the night as she gave birth to the pups. My friend and his wife adopted one that night, her name was Molly. I would only see her as we met up in Yuma in the Winter, but she would always come running to me and give me big hugs.

[DOTLDaddy]

SGTJOE wrote:
So I'm guessing no one is interested in trying to do a tribute to Richard, what a shame.

I have been thinking a lot about your original post about this from a week ago.

As one of the original FOOFs, dating back to 2005, here is my personal take on a Richard Daniels tribute: There already is one, that being Old Fella Burke County Animal Rescue in Waynesboro, GA. We were happy to see his vision of that shelter come to fruition, despite the red tape and delays that he faced and overcame. I think that is his true legacy, and everyone that has followed this topic will not soon forget Richard Daniels and what he did.

[Wanderlost]

I'm interested, SGTJoe.

[SGTJOE]

So I'm guessing no one is interested in trying to do a tribute to Richard, what a shame.

[Toolguy5]

Happy Birthday Garland

[riah]

Will keep them both in my prayers and fully recover from the Covid infection. Sadly, this Delta variant has proven itself very transmissible…

Toolguy5 wrote:
Update on Dan Branson.
All his test came back normal. Although he is weak from Covid. Covid was in the early stage so they started him on meds and are very hopeful.

Please keep the prayers coming.

[Toolguy5]

Update on Dan Branson.
All his test came back normal. Although he is weak from Covid. Covid was in the early stage so they started him on meds and are very hopeful.

Please keep the prayers coming.

[DOTLDaddy]

Toolguy5 wrote:
Just wanted to let all the FOOFs know that Dan Branson is in the hospital...

Dan, thanks for letting us know.

[Toolguy5]

Just wanted to let all the FOOFs know that Dan Branson is in the hospital.
As some of you know he has had several mini strokes over the past couple of years. Lori said he became very week over the last few days. He was admitted to the hospital atill waiting on some test results but they did say negative for a stroke.
He did test positive for COVID though.

Please keep him and Lori in your prayers.

[SGTJOE]

I'm surprised that there have not been that many interests in trying to do something for Richard. In my mind and heart he certainly deserves a Tribute for what him and Old Fella accomplished.

[MetalGator]

I would pitch in for that!

[riah]

What a wonderful idea!

SGTJOE wrote:
Folks I have been thinking a lot about Richard's passing and thought I would just throw this out.

In Waynesboro at a Park is a Tribute to Old Fella, statue and bricks. Wonder what it would cost to have a Statue made of Richard and place it next to Old Fella.

Look at what him and Old Fella did, don't you all think it might be worth a try to Honor him?

[SGTJOE]

Folks I have been thinking a lot about Richard's passing and thought I would just throw this out.

In Waynesboro at a Park is a Tribute to Old Fella, statue and bricks. Wonder what it would cost to have a Statue made of Richard and place it next to Old Fella.

Look at what him and Old Fella did, don't you all think it might be worth a try to Honor him?