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

[Dixie_Flyer]

Have you ever seen a kid that had to climb something just because it was there?

[Dixie_Flyer]

Sue is doing good right now and about her work. She is as tough as nails and doesn't like being sick. The best way to get her to do something is to tell her she can't, then step aside and watch the dust fly.

[E_Texan]

Prayer for Sue. That's scary.

[Dashonthedash]

Best wishes to Sue for a complete recovery, and kudos to Suzie for a job well done. I am about to leave for a weekend camping trip at Rifle Falls State Park, and Dash is bothering me to go, already. Will check in again when I return. Get well soon, Sue.

[maltese-lover2]

Richard, so sorry to hear about Sue. My thoughts go out to all of you. Get better Sue. We're all behind you.

[DOTLDaddy]

Dixie Flyer wrote:
...Sue was sitting slumped over in a diabetic coma having seizures. I gave her a shot of Glucagon and called the EMT's. They were here in about ten minutes and took her to the hospital. Her blood sugar was so low it would not register on the machine....

Whew! Glad Sue is OK! 🙂

Your description brings back memories of when that exact same happened to Garland about ten years ago. Very, very scary when things get to the point you have to call the EMT's.:E

[CindyNRoger]

Aren't dogs amazing?! Our love and prayers are sent south to Sue. Please tell her to get better soon. Take care all. We will be heading to Austin Lake after work and hooking up with Dan, Lori and the rest of the Ohio group. Look forward to seeing Beau, Anna, and all the other furkids. Our boys will be camping with the Scouts this weekend, so Roger and I are doing it solo. We'll see if we can remember how. :B Have a WONDERUL weekend everyone!

[Dixie_Flyer]

Hi Dan. Beau is going to need a lot of TLC in the time ahead and I hope Anna is an encouragement to him and I do hope you are able to make the rally in August. Last night when I came home from our monthly meeting of the Old Fella Burke County Animal Rescue Suzie greeted me at the back door. She came to me barking and running back to the family room then she would come to me, bark and run back to the family room as if she wanted me to follow her. When I walked into the room Suzie jumped up on the sofa and baked licking Sue on the face. Sue was sitting slumped over in a diabetic coma having seizures. I gave her a shot of Glucagon and called the EMT's. They were here in about ten minutes and took her to the hospital. Her blood sugar was so low it would not register on the machine.

As I was leaving the house to go to the hospital Suzie met me at the door as if to say I'll be waiting right here until You come back. By the time I arrived at the hospital Sue was beginning to come around and soon she was able to talk with us. After a couple of hours she was released and I brought her home.

Suzie was waiting at the door for us and was glad to see Sue back home and doing well. Old Fella was also waiting at the door lying on the floor and as soon as he saw Sue he began barking with excitement. Levi just ran around in circles trying to get a pat on the head. Izzie came out from his hiding place, all the excitement was too much for poor Izzie.

This morning all is well and Sue is feeling much better, missing a few brain cells from the low blood sugar ordeal, or least that is what she says. Yesterday I washed 4,000 miles worth of bugs and dirt off the camper, boy was that a job! Those bugs were stuck on like glue and then some. Okay I have to go for now. I have a meeting this morning with one of the workers from the rescue to discuss transporting some dogs to the upper northeast.

[dogdiva]

Dan Hang in there with Beau There will be good days and some bad days, just love on him and comfort him. Remember you are his family and he just wants to be near you

[colliehauler]

Dixie Flyer wrote:
Report on Levi. He caught some nasty germ from the water at the campground in Mountaindale, it did a number his bowels. The fresh blood was coming from a really raw spot near his tail caused by irritation from the bug he got and his strainning. Anyway he should be better in a few days with the medication he got.

We had a safe trip back and everything went well. We stayed at the most beautiful state park in Kansas I have ever seen, Cheney State Park. Just before that we passed through the small town of Greensburg, Kansas. It was the worse dustruction of a town Sue and I have ever seen. It was completely destroyed by a tornado, nothing was left standing and all the trees were stripped bare of leaves. Cars and buildings thrown around like match sticks. It reminded me of a movie scene of the aftermath of war where hundreds of rounds of cannon fire had leveled all the buildings.

That night while staying at the state park just down the road we experienced a severe thunderstorm during the early morning hours. I lay there in the bed waiting for a tornado to come and pick us up and carry us away. The campground host and his wife were alseep in their camper when a tornado picked up their 5th wheel and dumped in in the woods about 100 yards away about a month ago. He and his wife both survived with minor injuries. Okay enough for now I will post some pictures sometime tomorrow from the rally.

Carl I am glad you are home and doing better and I pray for a full recovery.

Now you know why I rely on my own fresh water tank. I never hooked up to Mountaindale's water. There are lots of nice state and federal parks in Kansas, I have to chuckle when some one thinks that Kansas is I-70 or I-35. You can tell they don't have a clue. Glad you had a safe trip home take care.

[Dandy_Dan]

Richard, I may have to try to send this in parts as the connection is somewhat less than good. We are thinking about trying to make the rally in August if circumsances allow. Beau is getting pretty bad, as I think he is now blind in addition to not being able to walk very well. I am not sure Anna can take all the excitement of going camping. We had to wake her up a couple of times to give her a treat while coming down here. She saw the truck door open this morning and thinking it was the back door of the truck, jumped in and crashed into the computer then jumped over the center console and into the back seat and sat there waiting for us to get the show on the road. We are at Austin Lake until Monday. Weather is really nice and hopefully will stay that way for now. Anna is ontinuing to make a lot of friends and renew the ones she has already made. Will have to get some more pictures and send them. I have ordered the parts for the digital camera to try to fix it. Take care and tell Suzie her sister said hi.

[DOTLDaddy]

Dixie Flyer wrote:

Old Fella sure did like the neighbor's kids and they like him as well.

Now that's what it's all about!🙂

[Dixie_Flyer]

Our campsite at Cheney State Park in Kansas. We were on site #88




Old Fella sure did like the neighbor's kids and they like him as well.

[AFritz01]

Cheney State Park is where we almost always camp. We will not this weekend due to most of the campgrounds on the east side are flooded. I am glad you enjoyed your stay in Kansas.

[Dixie_Flyer]

I finally got some pictures posted to the rally thread. Old Fella had a great time, especially when he was able to get out and walk about the campground. His visit to the Graden of the Gods was enjoyable also. I have errands to do so I have to go for now and come back later.

Just let me add that Levi is doing much, much better. It was a good thing that we came straight home so Levi could get the medical attention he needed. Suzie is such a ham. She was really glad to see us and has not stopped playing and running through the house with her toys. When I think of Suzie, Savannah, Dixie and Anna and what could have been a horrible life for them I am so grateful they have good homes. Suzie reminds me of our mission to save all that we can. The shelter is something that we will accomplish in due time and when it is operational we can look back at how it got started with one question, "Should I leave him and let nature take it's course, or should I go back for him?" I am so glad I went back. That old black dog has brought so much joy to all of us.