A very old stray {The Old Fella Story}
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 t...
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Sometimes we are in such a hurry or so involved with our own set of problems we miss some of the blessings of life. I feel this was the case in the life of Old Fella. So many campers had the opportunity to take him home with them but for one reason or another they left the campground without him thinking the hand out of food they gave him was enough.
For five years he waited for the family who would take him home with them and make him a part of their life. There were times he was misunderstood, I guess that is why someone shot him with bird shot from a shot gun. I guess that is why he was left to suffer from the heat and the cold, starving for food and affection. Then there were the ticks and fleas he had to put up with along with the injured paw that was cut off by the leg hold trap. Then there were his teeth that were broken off and worn down as he gnawed his way out of the steel jaws of the trap that held him for four or five days without food and water. There he lay in the jaws of pain chewing away at the foot until he was able to free himself. His life was one of misery and neglect and no one saw any value in this old black dog, at least not enough to try and make his life better.
Then one day a family came along that saw something of value, something precious as life itself and saved this old dog and gave him not only a home, but a place in their hearts. Then this old dog found a place in the hearts of thousands of people all across these United States. Today in his memory Old Fellow will be honored by those who have stopped to remember him as the sweet old dog that changed a community and also touched the lives of others of his kind. No longer will anyone who knows the Old Fella story look at another old stray dog the same as they have in the past. Compassion is the word I would use to describe Old Fella’s second chance at life, compassion that reaches out beyond understanding and reasoning to give life another chance at happiness. Don’t pass up the blessings in life just because what you see isn’t beautiful on the outside, because what may be on the inside could be the greatest treasure you will ever find.
For five years he waited for the family who would take him home with them and make him a part of their life. There were times he was misunderstood, I guess that is why someone shot him with bird shot from a shot gun. I guess that is why he was left to suffer from the heat and the cold, starving for food and affection. Then there were the ticks and fleas he had to put up with along with the injured paw that was cut off by the leg hold trap. Then there were his teeth that were broken off and worn down as he gnawed his way out of the steel jaws of the trap that held him for four or five days without food and water. There he lay in the jaws of pain chewing away at the foot until he was able to free himself. His life was one of misery and neglect and no one saw any value in this old black dog, at least not enough to try and make his life better.
Then one day a family came along that saw something of value, something precious as life itself and saved this old dog and gave him not only a home, but a place in their hearts. Then this old dog found a place in the hearts of thousands of people all across these United States. Today in his memory Old Fellow will be honored by those who have stopped to remember him as the sweet old dog that changed a community and also touched the lives of others of his kind. No longer will anyone who knows the Old Fella story look at another old stray dog the same as they have in the past. Compassion is the word I would use to describe Old Fella’s second chance at life, compassion that reaches out beyond understanding and reasoning to give life another chance at happiness. Don’t pass up the blessings in life just because what you see isn’t beautiful on the outside, because what may be on the inside could be the greatest treasure you will ever find.
