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

[Gottahaveit]

I just have to chime in..My 9 mo. old Aussie ate the remote control for the TV and had my phone out in the back yard, we got home just in time before that was history as well. Funny how they can be such angels and then..leave em alone and all heck breaks loose. I'm so glad Anna is doing so well. We love her pics and will hopefully see more some day. LOL. Hope the Daniel's and the fur kids have made a safe trip home..

[kokosfriend]

Isn't it wonderful to have a puppy!!! The only reason they survive is because they are so CUTE!!
Barb

[Dandy_Dan]

Richard, Take care of the furkids. Hopefully we will get to see you yet this year. I thought I would give you a little update on the Southern Darling. As you know, I have been leaving her loose in the house while we are gone. Night before last Anna came into the room where her bed, the computers, and my new digital camera were. She took the camera in case out to the living room and took the camera out of the case. Must have wanted to take a picture of her pile of bones and Beau. Anna had trouble trying to push the shutter button, at least I think she had trouble as there were a bunch of teeth marks all over the right side of the camera. The inerds were showing through from the inside. She must have thought that maybe she should see if any pictures should be downloaded as she also took the data transfer cable out of a velcroed pouch and tried to hook it us with her teeth also. Needless to say it is trashed along with another transfer cable that was in the case. I am waiting on Sony to e-mail me with any info about getting parts to attempt to fix the camera. Sure wish she wasn't so photogenic and would leave the camera equipment alone. You know, that offer of the dog food for a year might not have been too bad an offer. :B:B:B Tonight Anna found the book Lori had been reading "How To Get Your Dog To Do What You Want". Since Anna is too young to read, she ate it! Such an innocent look she gives me. Oh well, Hope you have a very safe trip homeward.
Dan, Lori, Beau and the adolescent Anna I

[CindyNRoger]

Richard - You will be missed, but we all understand why you will miss the rally in Ohio. Levi comes first! Take care of all of you and please keep in touch.

[DOTLDaddy]

Richard,

I hope poor old Levi get's to feeling better soon! I would like to know if your vet thinks it was the campground's well water. Gretchen drank it, but she seemed to be alright with it. I heard some other dogs at the campground had "issues" with it, however.:p

Susan is right, however, about bringing your own water. We have not normally done that in the past, but I think I will now make it our policy, at least for Gretchen.

We have always used one of these Culligan filters. I don't know if they help with disease causing agents, but they sure help with bad tasting water:

Culligan filter

[dogdiva]

Poor Levi, I hope you have adjusted his diet, Broth is best and fasting to clear out the intestinal tract. Animals in the wild will fast for several days to clear out the irritates in the intestines
Have a safe trip . I know you are looking forward to seeing Susie and you will ahve to work to retrain her since she has been away from you and your routines

[chemisd]

Safe travels today - hope Levi is doing better.....they worry us so much.
jana

[Code2High]

Fresh blood is usually not so bad as black blood, since it comes from near the end of the system and usually just indicates a lot of irritation... but hopefully they get home tonight and can get him to his regular doc manana. Poor guy!

Puddle and ditch water is best avoided. I had a real battle with that with Hally when I first got her, she'd dive for a puddle every chance she got. This in a dog that had repeated issues with giardia and a pretty much hair trigger system when I got her. Three years later her system is in much better shape and less likely to react... and she's learned she's not allowed to slurp water from the ground when we pass it. I've also learned that the fastest way to settle things back down is a day long fast. For a lot of things, that in itself will resolve the problem. If it doesn't, or if the problem seems severe at the outset, then we head for the vet's office.

[DIXIESMAMA]

Since we're on the subject of intestinal disorders, I have always prevented my dogs from drinking puddle and ditch water. A lot of soil has been contaminated with pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizer. Something to think about folks.

DIXIESMAMA

[Dashonthedash]

Our thoughts and prayers are with you and Levi. Have you talked to Doctor Jim about his problems? Blood in the stool is pretty serious.

[Dixie_Flyer]

We are close to Little Rock Arkansas tonight. This morning we had to make a decision as to going home or going to Ohio to meet with Dan and the gang. Levi is passing a large amount of fresh blood in his stool so we decided to get him back to Waynesboro to see Doctor Jim as soon as possible.

Last evening we stopped at a most beautiful state park in Kansas on a lake. I can't remember the name of the park but it had nice grassy sites which were very large. We camped next to a family that had four children that fell in love with Levi and Old Fella. When it came time to go for a walk we had lots of help. There was a bad thunderstorm that passed over us and after going through Greensburg, Kansas yesterday and seeing the devastation I was worried about a tornado coming through the park where we were and taking us with it.

I am going to try to make it back to Waynesboro tomorrow if I can. It will be a long drive but I am worried about Levi.

Dan I hope to see you and the Ohio gang sometime in the future. Maybe you can make plans now for the rally in Branson, Missouri next June at ABC campground. Anna looks as if she is having such a great time. I appreciate what you have done for Anna and I know she will always have a great home.

[kokosfriend]

I have had the pleasure of meeting Anna and now you have too!! She is indeed beautiful and a southern belle at heart
Barb

[Chemgoddess1]

Some pictures to share of my meeting the beautiful Southern Belle, Anna. And yes, that is a smile on her face!

[Code2High]

Bottled water is mandatory when traveling in my household... for all creatures. The time my lot got into the really nasty stuff was from a stream, though, that they were romping in with the rest of the dogs on the team. Had a high old time but paid for it for a night...

I trust Levi is getting back to normal by now?

[Dandy_Dan]

Our Vet said that we could use generic Pepto as it is a smaller tablet and easier to get down. If necessary we could use up to two Immodium a day. This was for a 65# dog. We take tap water from home or use Brita to filter water for the dogs if we run out. Beau has chronic trouble because of age but Anna has had no trouble.