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

[whimstock]

Dixie Flyer wrote:
We have enjoyed our visit here in Colorado especially the folks who came to the rally. It was so funny yesterday when we had company. Sue was busy fixing food for the rally supper while company came to visit with Old Fella. It got a little crowded in the camper so I put Levi behind closed doors so that he wouldn't hog up all the attention. Levi was sick, so you could hear him having a blow out behind the door and then came the smell of fresh, well you know. The funny part was no one wanted to let on as to what was happening with Levi so the exchange of small talk continued with Old Fella. Sue was so embarrassed with the company hearing and smelling the big event but like the trooper she is she just continued on as if nothing was happening.

Now our guest wasn't going to say "I think your dog is $#@%*(&^%$ behind the door" so they just ignored the obvious and went about as nothing was amiss. I can just hear their conversation as they left riding down the road. "Boy did you hear that and could you smell that??

I had to clean up the mess while Sue gave me some advise on how to handle a sick dog while company is in the house or camper. "yes dear, I know dear it wasn't the best impression."

So I apologize to the company that came by to pay their respects to the Daniels house hold, I say respects because you must have thought someone or something had died several days ago and was left to rot in the camper and I mostly appreciate your kind post to the thread without mentioning the above episode. I just hope you enjoyed dinner later on that evening without any ill effects of your visit with us.

With that being said I will close now fully expecting to be among the missing. It was a nice life and I hope all will remember me with kindness and not blame Sue for the act she is about to commit upon reading this post.

:o:B Aside from Levi being ill (I know how serious the "pet folks" here are....) this post made me laugh out loud. The perfect example of "The Elephant in the Room" scenerio!!!!

Rich, you are a master at taking things as they come, remaining calm, and just trusting that things will work out.

I'm glad the rally went well and that Old Fellow got to receive the affection from all his fans that were there. 🙂

This truly is the best thread on the Forum.

[Code2High]

Poor Levi! He must have been mortified. Leaving a dog with a GI tract issue "locked up" where he can't access the outdoors is always very high risk. One time while on a camping trip, the dogs got into some bad water. Mine didn't show symptoms until after we where home, and I was there to let them out... but a team member (this was SAR training) had a lab that must of gotten a bigger dose of the cooties that caused the issue... he lost control of his bowels inside the tent with his humans in the middle of the night. Oh, they did NOT enjoy that wake up call.

Speaking of which, did the vet do a stool sample and give Levi something? Mine always tells me it will take 3 days to work, but it always works the first day...

[Dixie_Flyer]

We have enjoyed our visit here in Colorado especially the folks who came to the rally. It was so funny yesterday when we had company. Sue was busy fixing food for the rally supper while company came to visit with Old Fella. It got a little crowded in the camper so I put Levi behind closed doors so that he wouldn't hog up all the attention. Levi was sick, so you could hear him having a blow out behind the door and then came the smell of fresh, well you know. The funny part was no one wanted to let on as to what was happening with Levi so the exchange of small talk continued with Old Fella. Sue was so embarrassed with the company hearing and smelling the big event but like the trooper she is she just continued on as if nothing was happening.

Now our guest wasn't going to say "I think your dog is $#@%*(&^%$ behind the door" so they just ignored the obvious and went about as nothing was amiss. I can just hear their conversation as they left riding down the road. "Boy did you hear that and could you smell that??

I had to clean up the mess while Sue gave me some advise on how to handle a sick dog while company is in the house or camper. "yes dear, I know dear it wasn't the best impression."

So I apologize to the company that came by to pay their respects to the Daniels house hold, I say respects because you must have thought someone or something had died several days ago and was left to rot in the camper and I mostly appreciate your kind post to the thread without mentioning the above episode. I just hope you enjoyed dinner later on that evening without any ill effects of your visit with us.

With that being said I will close now fully expecting to be among the missing. It was a nice life and I hope all will remember me with kindness and not blame Sue for the act she is about to commit upon reading this post.

[Dixie_Flyer]

It was voted tonight to have the Old Fella Rally in Branson, Missouri June 4-8 2008 at ABC Campground. Susan and Ted will be wagon master.

[Dixie_Flyer]

Camper Carl wrote:
Hello Everyone,
Looks like Carl will be coming home on Saturday. Carl is back in his own room and doing good. Poor guy is very weak and in a lot of pain, but he really wants to come home.

Richard, did Denver 9 every get there?

Pattie

Glad Carl is doing better. Never heard anything from Denver 9.

[kokosfriend]

So glad to hear Carl is coming home. It will take him a while to recover from all this, but he is going to make it!!!

Good news about Old Fella and Levi will be OK soon I am sure. Hannah used to get colitis on some long trips and we got used to carrying imodium to keep it from being a problem. Poor Levi - not fun I know!!
Barb

[bonniesoo]

The wind is trying to blow Texas to Florida....boy the wind is really blowing here in Central Texas....So glad to hear that Old Fella and Carl and doing so much better...hang in there Levi...how about some Imodium? Glad ya'll are having a good time...wish we were there...sigh....oh well...maybe next year.:R

[Camper_Carl]

Hello Everyone,
Looks like Carl will be coming home on Saturday. Carl is back in his own room and doing good. Poor guy is very weak and in a lot of pain, but he really wants to come home.

Richard, did Denver 9 every get there?

Pattie

[Dixie_Flyer]

Old Fella is doing great, it was Levi's turn to go to the vet with loose bowels. So now that Levi and Fella have been to see the doctor I wonder if Sue and I or next? Having a great time in Colorado even if the wind did blow the state of Colorado over to the east about a foot yesterday with the high winds. Some pass recorded 93 MPH winds yesterday. Where we were the gust were very strong we didn't see anything like 93MPH but maybe about 35-40 in the campground. Anyway Old Fella is having a great time along with Levi and the humans.

[Dixie_Flyer]

Levi, Old Fella, Sue and the old fellow {myself} went to the Garden of the Gods today and walked about for a little while. I didn't want Fella to walk too much so we limited our stay. The wind blew as if we were in a hurricane with gust over 50 MPH. We have really enjoyed our stay at Mountaindale and the Old Fella rally gang have been terrific. Dusty is doing much better and once again enjoying herself.

Time is going by so fast and the rally will soon be over. Waynesboro, Georgia seems another world away as we think about our journey back. I miss Suzie so much and will be glad to see her when we get back. Everyone has been so nice and we are all one big family here as we celebrate Old Fella and the changes he has brought about in so many lives. Thanks to all of you who have been faithful to the thread and a big thanks to the Old Fella Burke County Animal Rescue volunteers back home that have kept things going. What a great group of people that have gathered around this old dog and brought so much joy in the lives of so many.

[Dashonthedash]

Dusty was suffering from a combination of exhaustion and dehydration. She is much, much better this morning, and is under orders from her doctor (and the rest of us) to take it easy for a while.

[Dixie_Flyer]

Dusty is back with us and is doing okay.

[CindyNRoger]

Sending prayers out West for Dusty! Please keep us posted Richard.

[Dixie_Flyer]

Camper Carl wrote:
Hello Everyone,
Thank you all again for all of your well wishes for Carl and myself. This really means a lot coming from all of you. Carl is doing better then this time last night. He is still in CCU and will be there for another 24 hours. He blood count is coming up and he only took 2 units of blood today. Our daughters are with me and Alison has been staying with me at night. I have our fur babies at my in-laws. I am hoping that Carl can get out of CCU and into a regular room then he will be home in two to three days from then. I will keep you guys posted.

Pattie

Hope Carl comes home very soon. We still have all of you in our prayers.

Richard

[Dixie_Flyer]

Old Fella is much, much better today than he has been in days. He is really enjoying himself. The leg looks better this morning with sewlling going down. Dusty was taken to the hospital last night, still don't know what is happeing with her, will let you know as soon as we know.