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

[MetalGator]

Good Morning FOOFs.  We have been in Key Largo since last Friday but got to Canopy Oaks in Lake Wales, Florida last night.  Vacation is almost over but hoping to enjoy today and tomorrow before we head home on Sunday.  The doggies have done very well on this trip.  ZuZu has turned into a really good traveler.

Burch

[MetalGator]

Good Morning FOOFs

Still battling the vibration in my steering wheel with my new motorhome tires.  Mobile tech came back out and said the weights from the old tires were still on the front tire rims so he took them off.  Since the tires have balance beads in them, those old weights could be throwing off the balance.  I am going to take it for a ride this weekend and see if it's better.  We are going to the keys two weeks from today so if it's not better, I will take it to a local truck shop to get the front tires balanced with weights and get the beads taken out.

The fur babies are doing well.  However, I am a little worried about Monty.  He is losing weight.  He has been overweight for some time so he is actually looking good right now but I hope nothing is wrong with him.  He still has plenty of energy and gets along great.  He will be 14 next month.

It's been pretty quiet around here.  I hope everyone is doing well.

Burch

[Scottiemom]

Did you have an alignment done after getting your new tires, Burch? We always had that done after putting on new shoes. Always did that for all our vehicles. Just a suggestion.

Dale

[MetalGator]

I have not gotten an alignment done.  The closest place to me that does alignments is in Tampa.  There a several places around here that do truck/RV tires but they don't have the equipment to do alignments on a Class A motorhome.  My motorhome drives straight with no pull to either side so I am hoping it's just a balancing issue.  

[MetalGator]

Not happy with the new tires.  I have a vibration in the steering wheel that I didn't have with the old tires.  It's not terrible but enough to bother me.  The tire guy is coming out tomorrow and will be taking the front tires off and having them computer balanced.  Right now the tires have balancing needs in them.  I hope they get it fixed as I have a trip to the keys planned next month and don't want to deal with a vibrating steering wheel.

Burch

[MetalGator]

Been really quiet here lately.  Hope everyone is doing well.

I had new tires put on the motorhome yesterday.  My old ones were 7 years old.  When they took the old tires off, I inspected both inside and out and they were still in really good shape.  Looks like I could have used them another year easily, but the piece of mind is worth the cost.  Speaking of costs, I am glad I won't have to buy new tires for awhile! $$$

Burch

[Scottiemom]

I'm still trying to learn this new format and not liking it. Can't seem to find anything I want. 

I joined a camping club that is primarily made up of members of my RV community where I live. It is called the Florida Fun Seekers and is affiliated with FMCA. Anyone can join though. Some are former residents who have moved away. They camp November thru April when a lot of people leave for the summer. It's one way for me to meet more people in my community. We have almost 400 lots, so there are a lot of people I don't know. Because I don't tow anything, they are good about including me to go out to dinner, etc. They don't have a lot of activities, but normally Happy Hour every day where we brings snacks and always one pot luck dinner. They also did a couple breakfasts this time. We did eggs in a bag and they are really good. It also gives me a chance to use my motorhome once a month which is good for it. We usually just go places around central Florida, under 100 miles. Good fun and good fellowship.

I don't know if there is an air show soon. We have had so many planes of all shapes and sizes flying over us the last week or so. Sometimes 3-4 at a time. Imagine they are from the Lakeland Linder airport, but not sure. A few seaplanes with the floats. We have the Fantasy of Flight nearby in Polk City, but that is a grass runway, so not sure if they are gathering there. I'll have to see if I can find more information. One person made the comment they were practicing, which made me question if there's an upcoming airshow.

Dale

[Peanut57]

Hi Metal Gator   We just put tires on ours last month and going for alignment Wednesday.  I feel the pocketbook pain.  We do finally have a few trips planned we are headed to Fort Morgan RV park in 10 days.  If anyone has any input on the area, please let us know.  The other trips are trips with our horses to places we have already been.  I bit nervous I am old and don't have my horse or me in shape yet.

I do live near Louisville, KY and we are big into The Derby around here.  However our first trail ride is Derby Day we all camp at a close state park and have Oaks & Derby parties and ride.  Mainly to escape the crazy people here for the Derby.   It's not great timing to go on vacation right before but we didn't get to go to Florida this winter and I love the beach or I hope the bay.

So happy it's finally getting warm the older I get the more I have winter.

[MetalGator]

We took a weekend trip up to Tampa this past weekend.  My wife likes to go to the Hard Rock casino and we found a place that is only about a 10 minute drive from there.  Since Lazy Days closed, we had to find another RV place.  This place is convenient but doesn't have the amenities that Lazy Days did.  I am glad we took this trip before our Key Largo trip as my stairs quit working.  They had been acting up, but would normally come out after opening and closing the door several times.  This time, they came out when I arrived at the RV park and then wouldn't go back in.  I drove very slow to our site to make sure I didn't hit anything.  After several times opening and closing the door, the stairs came back in and luckily, stayed in the rest of the trip.  I guess I am going to crawl underneath and see if I can unhook them from the motor.  Our motorhome is 7 years old and this is the 4th time I have had to repair the stairs.  I wish the motor home had manual stairs like our travel trailer did.

ZuZu was very popular with the people at the RV park.  She just loves everyone.

Burch

[MetalGator]

Morning FOOFs

We took a weekend getaway two weekends ago.  There is a new place called Canopy Oaks near Lake Whales Florida.  Well, not exactly new, but has only been open a couple of years.  We really like it but they might be pricing us out.  The sites are big and spaced out nicely.  We just went for the weekend but it was really expensive.  I am hoping it's just because of snowbird season but it costs us double of what we paid when we went last May.  They have a few really good/big dog parks and have restaurants and a Tiki bar right onsite.  Only negative is there is really nothing around there to do.  We didn't even tow our Jeep with us as the store and food onsite was good.  Going to try and go back for a long weekend this summer.  It's only about a hour and 40 minute drive from our house and it's all back roads so not much traffic.

We had a dramatic weekend as it was time to cut the dogs toe nails.  I have to put a mussel on Monty as he turns from a sweet boy into a lunatic when you try to cut his nails.  We got through it.  ZuZu and Pinto let you cut their nails and it doesn't bother them.

Hope everyone is doing well.  Would be nice to hear from some of you.

Burch

[Scottiemom]

My sister has a small hound mix under 20 pounds. He screams like a banshee getting his nails trimmed. They take him to the vet and one time they gave up on him. They didn't have enough people available to hold him down. LOL One time I was at my vets and I could hear a puppy screaming like he was being murdered. Yep, just trying to trim his nails. I don't trim my boy's nails. . . maybe he does the same thing! LOL

[MetalGator]

We are staying at a place in Key Largo.  I was having a hard time finding a place that would allow 3 dogs.  Everyplace had a 2 dog limit and it was non negotiable.  No exceptions on all the places I contacted.  The place in Key Largo said they would consider a 3rd dog if it was small.  I called them and they said no problem for our 3 dogs.  I lucked out as someone had just canceled and I have a place right on the water.  It's a pull in site so our big window on the Class A will be looking out at the ocean.  Since I am not going all the way to Key West, it cuts 2 hours off the trip.  I haven't had a week off in over a year so the wife and I are really looking forward to it.

[MetalGator]

Morning FOOFs

I sure am looking forward to warmer weather.  It has been usually cool in West Central Florida.  It is supposed to finally get up in the upper 70s today.  ZuZu had two baby teeth removed on Friday.  They just weren't coming out and there was starting to get a tarter buildup between the baby tooth and the adult tooth.  We are using a new vet now and have been very happy so far.  I am probably going to keep taking the boys to our old vet.  Monty will be 14 in June and Pinto will be 13 next month.  They both are in great shape and look great.

No RV trips planned anytime soon.  Our next trip will be in May to the Keys.  Looking forward to getting a week off work.

[Scottiemom]

I need to plan a trip to the Keys some time. But my calendar is getting pretty full. As I am transitioning more to becoming a "loner," I am finding solace in camping. . . which has always been my happy place. I joined the Florida Fun Seekers, an FMCA club mostly (but not all) made up of people in my community. They have been very welcoming and fun to be with.

I think it's a good idea keeping your elderly boys to the vet they have known all this time. Change can be hard on them. 

I am ready for a warmup as well, Burch. I am more comfortable in the heat than in the cold.

Dale

[Wanderlost]

I'm still here, Metalgator, even though this new format is utterly infuriating.  Someone so failed the KISS principle...

We've not been RV traveling for a long time now, since Spousal Unit was diagnosed with Stage 4 prostate cancer that metastasized into his spine.  He has such difficult getting into/out of the Class A that we're going to sell it, after we get a couple things fixed.

He's thinking a Class B would work; I'm thinking I don't want to pay more for a vehicle than my house mortgage.  We'll consider options after the Class A is finally sold and gone.

Meanwhile, Czarny is not Spotacus -- he is most definitely not a traveling cat.  Can't even handle being in a kennel, so our travel options are limited, unless we can get an in-home cat sitter.

On the subject of this thread, I really miss Dixie Flyer.  Between his stories and the long-lost thread on the Defenders of the Light (featuring General Gretchen and at least two of my cats), I thoroughly enjoyed being here.