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]

Dashonthedash wrote:
I know how fast cancer can spread. Please allow me to relate the story of Willow, my first rescue and the dog that started me on a lifelong love affair with greyhounds. She was 12 years old, and had been with my GSD Max and me for almost 10 years:

I was away on vacation, when I came home and discovered that Willow was having trouble with her mouth. It wasn't bleeding at that time, but it soon swelled up until her head was almost as big as Dash's is now. My vet was on vacation at the time, so a substitute vet looked at her. She diagnosed the problem as a couple of abscessed teeth, pulled them and gave me some antibiotics. The problem subsided for a couple days, then came back worse than ever. One week from the initial diagnosis, my own vet finally had a chance to look at her, and he immediately diagnosed it as lymphosarcoma. I made an appointment with the oncologist at CSU for the following Wednesday. By that time, she was having problems breathing, and they had to place her in a hyperbaric chamber. They gave me three choices: full chemotherapy, partial chemotherapy or immediate euthanasia. Because of her age, I opted for the partial (prednisone), which they said might give her 2 or 3 months. For the next few days, she improved dramatically, and was almost back to her normal self. Then, on Friday night, 9 days after starting treatment, she started throwing up blood. Saturday morning, I took her to the vet, ready for the worst. He decided to keep her overnight for observation. That night, he called me to let me know that Willow threw up some blood, went to sleep and passed away naturally. It was just over 3 weeks after the first symptoms and 2 weeks after the diagnosis of cancer.

Richard, it was Fella's time. Even had you treated the jaw, other complications would have quickly developed, and he would have continued to suffer. Cancer is a terrible disease, and can spread quickly even before it is discovered.

Thanks Gary. We know now that Old Fella had cancer before we left for the rally in Branson. Our vet here missed the diagnose, but had the cancer been discovered it wouldn't have made any difference in the outcome and most likely would have changed our plans about the rally. As it was Fella did fine on the trip there and back and then when we went to the specialist she determined there was cancer and suggested a full range of X-rays be done. That is when the cancer was discovered. It seemed it was all down hill from there and very fast. When Dr. Phillips told us that bone cancer was the most painful kind of cancer there was and how much Fella had suffered it was amazing how he had put up with it as he had. She said it was his determination to please that kept him going. The pain meds had helped, but he was still suffering a great deal. This made the decision easier.

[Dashonthedash]

I know how fast cancer can spread. Please allow me to relate the story of Willow, my first rescue and the dog that started me on a lifelong love affair with greyhounds. She was 12 years old, and had been with my GSD Max and me for almost 10 years:

I was away on vacation, when I came home and discovered that Willow was having trouble with her mouth. It wasn't bleeding at that time, but it soon swelled up until her head was almost as big as Dash's is now. My vet was on vacation at the time, so a substitute vet looked at her. She diagnosed the problem as a couple of abscessed teeth, pulled them and gave me some antibiotics. The problem subsided for a couple days, then came back worse than ever. One week from the initial diagnosis, my own vet finally had a chance to look at her, and he immediately diagnosed it as lymphosarcoma. I made an appointment with the oncologist at CSU for the following Wednesday. By that time, she was having problems breathing, and they had to place her in a hyperbaric chamber. They gave me three choices: full chemotherapy, partial chemotherapy or immediate euthanasia. Because of her age, I opted for the partial (prednisone), which they said might give her 2 or 3 months. For the next few days, she improved dramatically, and was almost back to her normal self. Then, on Friday night, 9 days after starting treatment, she started throwing up blood. Saturday morning, I took her to the vet, ready for the worst. He decided to keep her overnight for observation. That night, he called me to let me know that Willow threw up some blood, went to sleep and passed away naturally. It was just over 3 weeks after the first symptoms and 2 weeks after the diagnosis of cancer.

Richard, it was Fella's time. Even had you treated the jaw, other complications would have quickly developed, and he would have continued to suffer. Cancer is a terrible disease, and can spread quickly even before it is discovered.

[chrisnpat]

Dixie Flyer wrote:
Sue says I didn’t get it exactly right when I described Old Fella as having a broken jaw bone. According to her Dr. Phillips described Old Fella’s problem as a tooth that either had abscessed or the cancer had become involved with the jaw bone and tooth together. In any case to stop the bleeding surgery was needed and the necessary equipment to do that was miles away in another clinic. Given the fact that Old Fella had been diagnosed with bone cancer and the outlook didn’t look that promising, to end his suffering would perhaps be the right thing to do.

Sorry for the confusion

Richard, Im sure there isn't anyone on this forum that wouldn't agree, that you and Sue did the right thing for Old Fella, and if there is someone like that........They don't belong here.

[HobbsHauler]

Popping in to see if Richard had a chance to check out the Golden. Maybe you could start a new wing at the rescue called the Ol' Boy wing.

[bonniesoo]

Whatever the situation was I truly believe you did the right thing for Old Fella. He didn't need to undergo any painful situations and seemed very happy and content till the end.

[Dixie_Flyer]

Sue says I didn’t get it exactly right when I described Old Fella as having a broken jaw bone. According to her Dr. Phillips described Old Fella’s problem as a tooth that either had abscessed or the cancer had become involved with the jaw bone and tooth together. In any case to stop the bleeding surgery was needed and the necessary equipment to do that was miles away in another clinic. Given the fact that Old Fella had been diagnosed with bone cancer and the outlook didn’t look that promising, to end his suffering would perhaps be the right thing to do.

Sorry for the confusion

[Dixie_Flyer]

It is time now to pick up the pieces and move on as Old Fella would have wanted us to. His strong will to live carried him beyond what many would have endured, so taking his example we will carry on the banner for the rescue effort and move forward.

Suzie is now back to her old self running and playing and into mischief. This morning she must have heard another animal outside because she went running into the living room so she could look out the window and came running back to the bedroom jumped up on the bed making sure we were awake. She was barking and carrying on wanting us to get up and let her out, so we did. Who can resist a 43 pound dog jumping up and down on your stomach when you need to go to the bathroom?

Last night we got some much needed rain, but it knocked out our satellite so we don't have a TV in the family room, who cares? It's time wasted anyway. Okay it's time to get ready for church so I had better go for now, so ya later.

[Code2High]

Taking on an older dog is an act of both compassion and courage... you know you're going to be going through loss again sooner than you'd like, and you know that if you don't, it is a very long shot to find someone who will. But the rewards can be great. Having an animal that can walk into the house and not be a huge project to civilize... this can be a very good thing.

[maxesmum]

Richard..My husband and I are camping this week end with our RV in Michigan and as always I am following the story of Fella. Today I came upon a Golden named Sarah. Her mom and dad said she is 11 years old. She looks exactly like the handsome guy that you are looking at. Please continue this journey. We all need something to help fill the void of Fella. We will never forget him but need some light to look to. You are in my thoughts each day.
Sue in Michigan

[Dixie_Flyer]

Hoops wrote:
Didn't realize the cancer had spread that much in his body without knowing it, nor that his jaw had broke. At least he was enjoying himself with family, human and animal alike, when it all happened, so you can count your blessing there that he was happy until that moment.

Becky

We didn't know the cancer had advanced that much either. We were surprised to hear the news ourselves.

[Hoops]

Didn't realize the cancer had spread that much in his body without knowing it, nor that his jaw had broke. At least he was enjoying himself with family, human and animal alike, when it all happened, so you can count your blessing there that he was happy until that moment.

Becky

[Dixie_Flyer]

It was about this time last Saturday that everything started going down hill. I first noticed Fella bleeding at about eight O'clock and I looked at his mouth and couldn't tell much about anything because there was so much blood. At first I thought he had bitten his tongue and I figured it would stop bleeding and after a while it did.

Then about nine O'clock he started bleeding again, only this time it was much worse. Sue and I took off to the Emergency Animal Clinic in Greenville with Fella lying on the floorboard of the truck behind the front seats. It took us about 35 minutes to get there and by that time the back was covered with blood.

Once inside he was given immediate attention because of his condition. I helped place him on a cart and he was hurriedly rolled to the back where Dr. Phillips was waiting. We were shown to a private room where we waited.

After about an hour and twenty minutes Dr. Phillips came in to talk with us. She had been informed by us in filling out the papers work that Fella had been diagnosed with bone cancer about a week before so she was aware of his illness. That is when she told us what she found and that the cancer had invaded the jaw bone and it had broken and severed one of the blood vessels and she couldn't stop the bleeding without major surgery and then there would be other problems to deal with like his fractured leg and the lungs which were showing signs of cancer. She then suggested it was time to let him him go.

Sue and I were with him, holding him until the end as he slipped peacefully away to Rainbow Bridge. Fella was a special friend that had touched Sue and I in a special way because of his gentle loving nature and knowing the hardships he had been through before he came to us. It was a wonderful relationship, one that we will never forget.

[mistressofdistr]

Dixie Flyer, there is a retired vet in our area that does spay/neuter in an old school bus that she has converted to a mobile clinic. She drives it to different areas in Mississippi on a rotating schedule. She makes each location about once a month. Charge is based on weight of animal, our 35 pound cocker was 50.00. I will try to get her to contact you and maybe she can give you tips on starting your clinic.

I like your choice of your rescue, he is a handsome man and I am sure will make you proud.

[wmshaw55]

Richard and Sue

DW and I would like to send our heartfelt condolences on the loss of Old Fella. We, too, have been converted. It will be "rescue animals" from now on for us. Old Fella has made a huge difference in the adoption scene!

[kokosfriend]

Suzie needs an older dog to help her run the household!! Check out the Golden.
Barb