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

[dwb619]

Rottweiler in a fifth wheel. She loves camping and we love her!

[bonniesoo]

I have been away from the board for several days but here's my two cents...I would rethink having his teeth cleaned...putting him under can be very risky and I don't do it unless absolutely necessary. Fella's heart worms weakened his heart I'm sure and anesthesia can be tough on the heart. That's just my humble opinion. I would try the brushing route first before anything else.

[Dobermanlover]

ladymc53
My husband and I have traveled for years in an Airstream 28 ft with 3 dobermans and now have 2 plus a small dog. If you are determined not to take you dog of 8 years you might try www.bestfriends.org They are a no kill shelter that will try to find someone to adopt your no longer wanted pet or will give him a home for life. Sure glad your children are grown. Good luck and safe travels.

[dogdiva]

I will definitely pray for CY and that he finds a better home
I RVed with 5 dogs, one was a paraplegic and required lots of care, but they gave so much love. I would never abandon a beloved companion

[whimstock]

Of course, that is your decision. 🙂

With time on your side, maybe you will be able to find a good home for Cy.

I wish you the best of luck in doing that.

[ladymc53]

This is going to go over like a lead balloon, but I'm not taking Cy on the road. He's a dog - not a human and my disabled husband and I will be traveling via RV and flying (son is a flight attendant and we can fly free anywhere in the world.) We have raised our 4 children and are in a place in life that we can now travel extensively. DH is diabetic, disabled visually and cannot handle extra pressure of living with a large dog in the RV, nor does he want to. But the main reason is that he will have to be boarded for extensive amts. of time while we are out of the country. I am an animal lover, but a lover of my husband first and if I have to make other arrangements for Cy because of DH I will do just that. I know this is not going to set will with some of you on this forum, but there is no other alternative to finding him a home. I'll keep trying and believe that there is that someone special in the country that will love Cy and give him a place to live out his last days. I have some options left and time on my side...not to mention lots of prayer. So ya'll pray for us and Cy please. This is not meant to offend, just stating our situation.

[lviars50]

]I would definitely opt for cleaning the teeth. Infections in the mouth can create many other problems, not to mention difficulty eating. We have all our dogs' teeth cleaned every year when they have their annual check-up.

Yes i also would agree 100% with above post

[Dixie_Flyer]

Once Fella learned what was expected of him we did away with the kennel, Suzie on the other hand, well the kennel keeps her out of trouble. We have a kennel for her in the camper that folds down and slides under the couch and we have taken one the chairs out so we can set her kennel in that space. Suzie's kennel has become her sanctuary. She sleeps in it, eats in it and hides in it when the going gets rough. This is her space and she loves it. When go visit we take the kennel if she goes and she knows this is hers and goes into it without a problem.

Suzie invented the word trouble. Either she is in trouble or just out of it. We have learned what an adventuresome little girl she is when left to herself. Dan bought us a magnet for our refrigerator, its the picture of a puppy with the words, "Been there chewed that." That's my Suzie and I love every minute of. She brings so much joy to our home. Old Fella brings the rewards of just knowing you have done the right thing by an old dog that deserved something good in his life.

[fulltimegrams22]

I agree with everyone regarding Cy, I had two 65 pound dogs, Buddy and Sandy and now we have only Sandy because we had to put Buddy down. I miss him dearly and he was a hard dog to break because he was also a stray who followed us home one day. He had alot of very bad behaviors and we worked with him on all of them. It took quite a bit of time to figure out a kennel was the way to go, after we left the house one day and came back to find our oven door was shattered all over the kitchen...:h We still haven't figured out how he did that. Once we got the kennel he went in and out with no problem and we used that as a training tool. His bad habits of tearing up my flower gardens and lawn were broken in no time at all. He quit chasing the cats through the house and he became a well behaved house pet and I am glad he picked US. His kennel became his spot and he laid in it all the time. When we sold our home and bought the TT we already had him ready for the kennel.

Cy can learn this way too and adjusting to living in a 5th wheel will be easier for him if he has his space only for him. It will provide him with some security all his own. Go for it, you will be happy you have your furry friend and he will love you all the more.

We have two cats and Sandy so I understand how hard it can be to decide living in a small space with animals. It can be done, we have been doing it for over 1 year now.

Good luck and I encourage you to look at the furniture in your rig, can you move out a chair to place a kennel? Or, can you keep the chair and use a kennel that can be folded down for storing between trips and easy travel? There are many kennels available at PetSmart and PetCo, just make sure you get one that Cy can stand up, lay down in and stretch comfortably, he will be happier this way.

Fulltimegrams22

[whimstock]

Dixie Flyer wrote:
...My suggestion is give him a chance to prove himself. Buy a large kennel crate and bring him in at night to start off with and let him spend the night inside letting him out in the morning to take care of business and then bring him back inside to his crate to feed him. This way he will learn the crate is a nice place to be and will want to go in without a fuss. Soon if all goes well you will have him house broken.

What an excellent idea!!!

Surely, Cy is worthy of having this chance to stay with his family.

[Dixie_Flyer]

Old Fella was an outside dog for five years that we know of and by the time he was rescued he was about 10-11 years old. He didn't understand about living in a house but it didn't take long for him to catch on to the routine. He spent his first month inside at a kennel and let out during the day to take care of business. Dogs will not mess up their bed so he learned to hold it until he went outside. By the time he got to our house he was house broken and has never messed up in the house.

My suggestion is give him a chance to prove himself. Buy a large kennel crate and bring him in at night to start off with and let him spend the night inside letting him out in the morning to take care of business and then bring him back inside to his crate to feed him. This way he will learn the crate is a nice place to be and will want to go in without a fuss. Soon if all goes well you will have him house broken.

We tarvel with three dogs. Old Fella, Levi and Suzie in a 30 foot 5er without a probelm. Suzie gets car sick so we have to limit her to short trips, but they are so much fun to have around and like children they love to camp and swim in the lake or river. This can be such a joyable time for you and your dog as he learns how to travel with you enjoying your company.

When Old Fella first came to live with us someone said to me on the forum, "Nobody is going to love that dog the way you do." and they were right. It sounds as if there is already a bond between the two of you, so take it to the next level and make him a family member, you will never regret it.

[doxieparents]

I have not posted before but have read the whole OF saga and look forward to reading it each day. We full-timed for close to a year and a half but have now purchased a stick house where we reside with our 2 doxies, Molly who is 11 and Melvin will be 3 in a few days. Molly's breath is atrocious but we don't want her to be anesthesized for a cleaning. We've had it done before a couple of times, but I don't think we'll do it again, even tho our vet hasn't cautioned against it. It does make me wish that I had started brushing her teeth when she was a pup. We have seen lots of big dogs with their masters in all sizes of RV's. I could never leave a pet behind just because of its size. I'm sure accommodations could be made for Cy. I am looking forward to reading October's Highway magazine. Old Fella is definitely my hero...as well as Richard and Sue. Richard, you've done great things in Waynesboro...keep up the good work.

[whimstock]

Code2High wrote:
......About fulltiming, I'm trying to understand what you mean by "too large" ... If you love your dog, that's what you do. You find a place for his bed/crate and get to getting. Unless he's the size of King Kong, he's not too big.

OMG! How sad....Susan, I agree with you completely! I have seen lots and lots of people traveling with what I call "big" dogs...Golden's, Lab's, etc.

We travel with 2 40# dogs (and a cat)--their crates stay on the bed during the day and come down on the floor at night. Like you say, we have to move a few things around sometimes.

Cy sounds like a sweetheart--if he's the "sweetest dog you've every owned," surely he at least deserves a chance at being a fulltimer.

[vickiebec]

Old Fella was a large outside dog and look how he had adapted to living in his home and FW. It can be done.

[Code2High]

As for what to do about him and the plants, fence off an area that he can't damage, or create a run he can lay around in while you sell the home. Be sure he gets enough walking each day.

About fulltiming, I'm trying to understand what you mean by "too large" I have two mid size dogs now, plus two cats and two rabbits, though when I started in my TT (less room than a 5er) I had these two and a big dog, the cats, but no rabbits. I did have to move some things around to create a space for each animal. If you love your dog, that's what you do. You find a place for his bed/crate and get to getting. Unless he's the size of King Kong, he's not too big. Many people travel and/or fulltime with large breed dogs... I've seen Borzoi, GSDs, lots of labs and goldens, rotts, mutts. They're usually a lot better behaved than the chi's and swiffer dogs.

Older dogs are hard to place, and there are too many dogs in the world. They usually lose their homes because people think of them as something to enjoy when they want to and to get rid of when they become inconvenient. Your old friend trusts you... please don't toss him aside like last year's ipod, just to avoid shifting some things around in the 5er, and going for a walk a few times a day.