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

[Martyn]

Merry Christmas to all you FOOFS!

[Scottiemom]

Be well, Burch. My one of my friends in Indiana, my BFF actually, started having eye problems last week. Had a badly detached retina and had emergency surgery on Friday. It went well, but they had to stay in a hotel for 2 nights due to the impending storm up there. She is back home now and healing. At least being retired, she didn't have a lot of responsibilities but I think it would still be hard around the holidays as I don't know if she is even able to do anything. She has a wonderful husband so she is getting good care, but it was scary. She could have gone blind in that eye.

I am thankful for all my friends here and there and that I have my daughter and family visiting. We are going to my son's. First time in prolly 20 years we have been together for a holiday.

Merry Christmas to all my fellow FOOFs. May you all be blessed and experience good health this coming year.

Dale

[MetalGator]

Feeling better but the cough and congestion is still lingering.

We had my wife's side of the family over for Christmas last night as they are traveling today. ZuZu got to meet the family and she was so excited. She loved everyone and everyone loved her. She will get to visit my mom and some neighbors on Sunday so she is going to have a good weekend.

I hope everything is staying warm. It's 35 degrees here in Florida and only supposed to get to 48 as a high today.

Burch

[Scottiemom]

Glad you're finally feeling better, Burch. Best wishes for a full recovery. Zuzu is a cutie for sure.

My daughter and her family arrived yesterday from Virginia. They are here for 2 weeks. We are going to my son's in Melbourne for Christmas dinner. First time in maybe 20 years we have all been together.

Hope you all are settling into your holiday plans. Merry Christmas to all!

Dale

[Wanderlost]

That is a very cute photo.

[MetalGator]

I am finally feeling like a human being again. Still blowing my nose and coughing but feeling much better. I still have a few days of antibiotic left. The amount of crud that came out of my chest last week was mind blowing.

ZuZu has stolen our hearts but she is still in full blown puppy mode. She has now destroyed 5 pairs of my wife's shoes. My wife was not happy with her on Friday where ZuZu ate an expensive pair of sandals. It's hard to stay made at her though because she is so cute.

I had been sitting outside on our screened in porch watching football yesterday. After awhile, I went looking for ZuZu. I couldn't find her and then I went back on the porch and saw her sleeping under the coffee table!

[dturm]

Twice we've been stuck for prolonged periods due to accidents. It was great being in the motorhome because we could get up and stretch, use the bathroom and make lunch. It's a different story when you have a schedule and are trying to get somewhere though.

Hope you feel better.

[Wanderlost]

Hope you're feeling better soon, Burch.

[MetalGator]

Good Morning FOOFs

I just got back from a quick trip to Kentucky. It was 825 miles one way and it was a quick 4 day trip. I picked up my Aunt to bring her back to Florida. I took a friend of mine with me and left the wife and dogs at home. I am extremely tired today. Coming home last night, I got stuck on I75 around Dade City as there was an accident. All 3 lanes were closed due to a fatality. After driving all day (around 750 miles at this point), I had to sit in my motorhome for 4 hours until they opened the road. Didn't get home until 11:30pm. I felt guilty for getting frustrated as someone lost their life but I sure didn't need that 4 hour delay. On top of that, I caught a cold a few days before I left for the trip. Being in that cold and damp climate in KY, it just got worse and I am blowing and coughing up all sorts of nasty stuff. Guess I need to call the Dr today.

ZuZu was SO happy to see me when I got home. As tired and sick as I was last night, she made me smile. I swear she grew since I was gone. She is a very sweet dog.

Hope everyone is doing OK. I have to wash all the KY red dirt off the motorhome today. The doorway stairs are red from the red dirt from our feet. That stuff is like glue when it's wet.

Burch

[MetalGator]

Toolguy5 wrote:
Pomeranians are very smart and STUBBORN.

I am starting to learn about the stubborn streak. We took her on the motorhome this weekend and she did very well. She had never had a lease put on her and boy was that an experience! By the end of the weekend, she started doing fairly well on the lease but when she wanted to go a different direction than I did, the brakes came on. Lola used to do the same thing.

She was so excited when we got home yesterday afternoon. She was flying around the backyard. She likes having the fenced in yard vs the lease. She was a big hit at the RV resort. She loves people and other dogs. She acts like she has never met a stranger.

I am working from home today which I think is a mistake. I haven't been able to get anything done because as soon as I turn my head, she is into something. I just got off a work call and she was under the coffee table playing tug of war with Donna's laptop charger! I might have to put her in her play pen for awhile just so I can get some work done.

Burch

[Toolguy5]

Happy Thanksgiving to all.

Hope everyone has a wonderful day.

[Toolguy5]

Burch congrats on ZuZu.

Pomeranians are very smart and STUBBORN. Our Pom Pickles knows every word we say. When we take her for walks you have to go her way or she will plant her feet and wont move,
When you call her to go out if she does not want to go you have to pick her up and take her out. Then she will just stand out there and try and wait you out.

[MetalGator]

ZuZu is really a sweet little puppy. She is so full of energy. I was having a hard time yesterday missing Lola but then I would watch ZuZu running around and playing and it would make me smile. ZuZu is very smart and is learning fast. She seems to really love people and other dogs so I am looking forward to our trip to see how she interacts with everyone.

Burch

[Shadow57]

So sorry to read about Lola. Very happy to see the cute new puppy. She sure is a doll. I thought I got one that had some pom in it, they called her a Toy Aussie. Since I didn't think it was even a breed I had DNA ran. She is 1/2 mini aussie, 1/4 Chihuahua & 1/4 Yorkie. I really didn't care what she was, we love her and she's smart. I find around here my old dogs really like the puppies even if they don't want to act like it. Good luck traveling with the pups, keep us posted as she grows up. I love puppies.

[MetalGator]

She is very smart. She has pretty much figured out the house and is comfortable in her surroundings. She got to meet the kids from next door yesterday. She was so excited! Her little tail was a blur. I am looking forward to taking her in the motorhome tomorrow. She will get to meet lots of people and other doggies. She seems to love everyone.

She is still driving Pinto crazy but Monty is tolerating her. He makes it known that he is the boss (he just thinks he is) but is giving her some slack.



Burch