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

[joelbaker]

Good for you, Richard! What a tough situation, but you handled it well. And of course your emotions will be involved! Georgia looks like a sweetheart and I am sure she will make someone a wonderful companion. Once she is adopted, and I am confident she will be, make sure you chronicle her story, so those who have opposed the breed can see what a good pet they can make. Hopefully success with Rascal and Georgia can help in the future when this situation arises again.

[Dixie_Flyer]

Okay here is where we are at the moment. Yes we are a no "kill shelter" and "NO" we are not going to put these two dogs down. I have talked with the foster home of Rascal and they have agreed to adopt him and give him a forever home, so Rascal is safe.

I have found a temporary home for Georgia with the home that was fostering Rascal. So for the time being Georgia is safe. In our by-laws we are a "NO KILL SHELTER" so the by-laws protect those animals in our care. It states that the only way an animal can be put down is because of terminal illnes to end suffering and pain or aggressive behavior that is life threatening to those around it.

I promise those by-laws will be upheld without exception. My heart says to give every opportunity to every stray animal we have come our way not to end life but to give life a second chance.

I have sent off email to a lot of rescues that help with dogs like Georgia so we will wait and see what happens. In the mean while Georgia will be in a safe home enjoying the company of other animals that she can play with.

[Code2High]

Richard,

First off lets all put our intention on her finding her perfect home, and quickly. Then we can pray for guidance and help making that happen.

After that, I'd say contact pit organizations. Besides Bless the Bullies, there's BAD RAP who just did the evals on Michael Vick's dogs w/the ASPCA, and Villalobos Rescue Center in Acton, CA, and probably others nearer to you. You could also contact Best Friends (www.bestfriends.org) and ask for help and referrals. Hopefully in the end you can locate someone closer to you this way.

Here's the problem I see. If you put one down for her race, and no other reason, you're going to have a situation where those who want that approach feel it is now the precedent, and that's going to be a problem. Can't be "no kill" and kill dogs for nothing but what they look like.

Really sad that someone who is a trainer would take this approach.

[Dixie_Flyer]

CindyNRoger wrote:
Richard, one question. Is this shelter a no kill shelter? I thought that was one of the things you were striving for.

Stereotyping is wrong. I grew up with pekes and my husband grew up with poodles. We have heard the statements that all pekes are mean and all poodles are hyper. These statements couldn't be any farther from the truth.

Just my $.02.

We are a no kill shelter that is why I am fighting so hard over this issue. This goes against all I have believed in what a rescue shelter should be. These animals have shown no aggressiveness what so ever, it's just the breed thing. I'm still trying but I think I have found a solution. Rascal's foster has just said they will adopt him. Now I am working on saving Georgia.

[ljr]

CindyNRoger wrote:
Richard, one question. Is this shelter a no kill shelter?

Excellent question. I'd like to know the answer too.

[CindyNRoger]

Richard, one question. Is this shelter a no kill shelter? I thought that was one of the things you were striving for.

Stereotyping is wrong. I grew up with pekes and my husband grew up with poodles. We have heard the statements that all pekes are mean and all poodles are hyper. These statements couldn't be any farther from the truth.

Just my $.02.

[W7SFO]

It is really sad that folks lump these animals in the same category! I see it up here as well. The shelters up here are very reluctant to adopt out "dangerous" breeds because of the liability issue.

Should these two dogs be put down? No, not if they are not aggressive. People need to understand that in some situations more care needs to be taken in placing an animal.

Making everyone happy is imposable and doing so at the cost of an animals life does not seem like a good option to me.

Richard I trust your judgment and know your heart and faith will guide you in this situation. This will not be the last time your group or other rescue groups will have to deal with such a hard decision. Having it happen early on will be helpful when it happens down the road.

[TomW2]

I don't know how to convince the other members of the organization but they definately need to realize that "pit bull" is not synonymous with "dangerous dog". Some pits may have an inborn tendancy towards living up to their reputation but I believe that for most it is a result of "training". We've recently had a few pit bull attacks locally but that doesn't change my mind.

My prior dog was a pit bull cross and she was the gentlest of dogs. At that time we also had cats & kittens and she would mother them. The kittens would crawl all over her and she would wash them. We got a second dog (my wife's current furkid) and they got along just fine. I'd probably still have Gail but the local kids liked to play with her so much that one time we were out camping they let the dogs out of the yard and she got hit by a car. (Our furkids go camping with us now.)

If we didn't already have 2 dogs (25# & 45# in a 30' class C) I wouldn't hesitate at all to offer Georgia a forever home even though it would mean arranging for another cross-country saga (I live about 70 road miles southwest of Tia).

[kokosfriend]

Have you checked to see if Bless the Bullies organization can help you out. They were going to help me when i had found a young pit bull and needed to get her someplace safe. It is up here in TN.

This is a dilemma and I agree that Pit Bull are not all dangerous, but must be handled well. But the organization needs to continue to function to help all the other dogs that need saving. Do what you feel lead to do.
Barb

[Dixie_Flyer]

The problem I am facing is two Pit Bull dogs that were rescued, one from animal abuse {Rascal}and the other from the city shelter {Georgia}. Some of our people believe that both dogs should be put down because of the breed. We cannot find a foster home for Georgia, because of the influence coming from the news media and also a lady who works in dog obedience classes with the rescue group.

It has become confrontational between myself and my most valued people who have done so much for the Old Fella Burke County Animal Rescue. I am afraid for the sake of the organization these two dogs must be sacrificed so that we can come back together as an organization and continue the work.

I have volunteered to take on Georgia as a personal project, working with her in the day time and taking her back to the kennel at night. As I think more about this I realize this is not the answer to getting her out of the $10.00 a day kennel and I cannot take her on as a full time project. So does the Old Fella Burke County Animal Rescue euthanize these two dogs and move on, or do I stand in the gap between them and death risking to tear apart the organization? That is my dilemma. The exchange between all involved has become way too much.

I do not take the stand that these are dangerous dogs and should be put down. By saying all Pit Bulls are dangerous is like saying all of Jeffery Dahmer's children and all of Ted Bundy's children will grow up to be serial killers. I have offended the very people that I have grown to admire and work with. I have watched this organization grow beyond belief and now that we are on the verge of putting a building on the land we have this looming over our heads. What is the price of peace? How much do we demand for defending what we believe in? Is it worth tearing apart the Old Fella organization?

The only way out of this is to find a home for Georgia right away, Rascal is in a foster home so his needs are being met for now. I hope and pray that we can find a peaceful solution to this issue. Please pray for me to be humble where I need to be and to stand firm when I need to stand on principal. Sometimes it is hard to know where the line is.

I do not want this to turn into a debate on the Old Fella thread so please before responding to this post think carefully about what you are posting so we don't run into trouble here. I don't think I could handle having this thread being shut down. PM's might be better if you have anything to say that might be confrontational.

Anyway, that is where I am this morning filling a lot of remorse over this situation that I could have handled better had I taken my emotions out of this issue.

[chemisd]

Thinking of you today. I read your post last night and really didn't know what to write. I believe like dogdiva....you know what your objective is. In my field of teaching, I know what my objectives are. And being a special ed teacher, I sometimes can't go the regular route to get there. It doesn't mean that I'm still not headed in the same direction. So it may be that on your route to rescue, there will be some bumps and turns and some not so nice things to deal with. God got you this far. He'll take you all the way.
jana

[dogdiva]

RIchard, We know you have alot on your mind Please dont forget your prime objective, of rescue.........this is YOUR goal, and i imagine you are being pulled in many directions......Stick to your guns, the Lord is with you

[Dernhelm]

Dixie Flyer, I know you have lots of things to worry about; lots of decisions to make. There are many foundlings like Georgia who need homes, and I know you worry about them too. Tomorrow (10/4) is St. Francis' Day. We'll keep you in our thoughts and hopes as we hand the gentle saint his yearly flowers and candles. As on other St. Francis' days, the statue at church will be decorated and the members of the congregation will note his day with special hymns etc. The shrine in the backyard will be decorated and the pooches will sniff at the strange stuff there. Then Bortan and Erkenbrand will charge around the yard celebrating the advent of DINNER, and Dernhelm will bounce the ball off her nose. Eventually the poor saint will get trampled - he always does. I'm sure he enjoys the revels though. At night the solar lamp by his shrine will glow softly on the Sleeping Puppy and the righted saint, and all will be well for another evening. I'm sure He Who inspired St. Francis will keep an eye and ear on your troubles too.

[Dixie_Flyer]

This is Georgia. She needs a home



Georgia is a Pit Bull mix about 8 months old rescued from the city shelter. She is very active and hyper. Georgia needs a home with a strong personality as a head master. She has been tested for temperment and passed with flying colors. With the image of Pit Bull fighting here in Burke County she is not getting a fair chance at finding a forever home. We have boarded her at a kennel for over a month trying to find her a foster home without success. There has to be someone who will give her a home and a second chance at life.

I would perfer she have a home where she is the only pet at least until she can becomes use to her surroundings. If you know of anyone who may be interested please PM me. She has had all of her shots and she will be spayed next week. She is really a sweet little dog looking for a forever home.

[Hoops]

Prayers your way Richard.