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

[nonameperson]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SUE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11
GOD BLESS YA ALL.
I enjoy reading yourb posts each day, Rich.

Have a great weekend

Nina

[Dixie_Flyer]

I like the happy fall post by Butterfly Girl. Last October we still had Levi and Old Fella even though Levi's time was short we didn't know it at the time. We were looking forward to our annual gathering with the kids in the Smokey Mountains. I remember the fall colors were beautiful and I also noticed Levi wasn't his usual self. He seemed tired all the time but his appetite was good and he did seem to be happy, but he tired easily. He wasn't a complainer anyway so it was hard to know what was going on with him. Then two weeks later it hit us that he was really in pain and having problems. That is when we found out about the cancer.

It was the next June we lost Old Fella. Charlie came into our lives soon after and made the pain easier to live wit and then came Peaches who also brought us comfort along with Suzie's ability to make us laugh. As we look forward to the holiday season that will soon be here I think how blessed we are. Old Fella and Levi brought us such joy as they became soul mates and bonded together. Fella missed Levi a great deal and at first would go to his bed at night to see if Levi would be there. He often would lie down on Levi's bed to sleep, but after a while he stopped that and went back to his own bed. Suzie then took Levi's bed and that seemed to satisfy Fella.

This weekend we will celebrate Sue’s birthday. It was supposed to be a surprise but I ruined that when I refused to go to Greenville because if a commitment I had made. So they had to tell me what was going on and soon Sue found out. But anyway we will be going to Camp Dixie this coming weekend to celebrate Sue’s birthday and we will be taking Charlie, Peaches and Suzie with us. This will be Charlie and Peaches’ first trip to Camp Dixie so I hope they enjoy the woods and the pond.

Okay I am tired and I think I will take a break as I have been busy all day with putting signs out and talking with people. So everyone have a blest evening and I will talk with you later.

[butterfly_girl]

[Hoops]

God will hand us the humble pie when we need it. Which proves we are human and still need his guidance in our lives.

[Dixie_Flyer]

Good morning everyone. I hope you have a blessed day. Everything here at home is peaceful this morning with all the fur babies taking a nap after their morning meal. Charlie continues to do well as does Peaches and Suzie.


God sure does have His ways of making us humble. Last night I was fed a piece of humble pie and at first I didn't like it, but this morning I look at it differently. There are times we find ourselves in situations where it is better to listen than to react, I hope next time I am a better listener.

[Caseydon]

Gentle Spirit wrote:
For the little boy who has to endure the rabies shots - maybe a kind person (such as Richard who is a minister) could persuade the so-called owner to admit whether the dogs had rabies shots or not, maybe if he was told "We don't want your dogs, just copies of their shot records..."

Don't you think the present silence tells the story? If the owner were responsible enough to have the dogs' vaccinations up to date, wouldn't he have produced the records, even if anonymously?
When there's no effective enforcement of animal regulations, there will be lots of violators. My exurban county requires licensing of dogs and cats, at nominal fees. One year when I tried to buy licenses for my dog and cat, I got blank stares. I was finally sent licenses No. 2 and 3. I always wondered who No. 1 was.

[Gentle_Spirit]

Please pray for my Aunt's cat. My Aunt who was 102 yrs old died recently and her cat needs a home. The poor kitty is 16 yrs old and won't come out of the closet - even though she was friendly and would come out when people visited. I would take her, but I have 2 indoor only cats and want to travel (taking all cats/dogs in the motorhome) - so my husband said NO! Yesterday was the funeral and I asked so many people and no one would take her. She's going to stay alone in my Aunt's apartment til things are settled. There are several people trying to find a home for her, but no luck.

For the little boy who has to endure the rabies shots - maybe a kind person (such as Richard who is a minister) could persuade the so-called owner to admit whether the dogs had rabies shots or not, maybe if he was told "We don't want your dogs, just copies of their shot records..."

[woodstick]

Prayers for the little boy and his family, what a sad story. This terrible incident should raise some awareness regarding animal control being needed.

[dturm]

That's really sad about the boy having to go through the rabies shot series. Some of you may not be aware, there is a world wide shortage of rabies vaccine used for people. The shortage is critical enough that prophylactic vaccinations for those in high risk occupations do not have it available as the supply is being held for those in bite situations - like this boy.

With responsible ownership and proper government (animal control) oversite, the treatment of this boy could probably be avoided. Really sad commentary.

Doug

[Dixie_Flyer]

Today will be interesting to see how things develop with the dog bite case. I feel sorry for the boy and his family. On the brighter side Charlie is doing so well with his leg. What a wonderful companion he is and so easy going. Izzie just loves him to death and sticks close to him during the day. Right now he is on his bed in front if the couch in the family room catching forty winks. For an old dog is very playful and loves to mix it up with Suzie and Peaches. His personality is like Fella and Levi combined. When I think about Charlie and the way he came to live with us it reminds me so much of Fella. An older dog abandoned, yet somewhere in his past he was someone beloved pet.

Sue and I wonder if he belonged to an older person that died and then was turned into the city pound by the relatives. He was free of heartworms, had been neutered and house broken. He has been trained to retrieve and to sit and stay until told to fetch. His manners about food are something to be worked on but that is coming along nicely. When he wants attention he comes over and leans on you just like Levi used to do. He is now barking for attention just like Fella did and if you remember he didn’t bark at all when he first arrived at the house. As a matter of fact Sue and I wondered if he could bark at all? Now he sits outside the kitchen window in the mornings looking in while I get the food ready and if I am not moving fast enough he will let me know. The minute I start toward the back door he runs to greet me along with Peaches and Suzie. You should see them going to their food station. Each one knows where their bowl of food is and will go straight to it and never go to the other’s bowl. Suzie goes to her kennel crate, Peaches goes to the laundry room and Charlie goes to the kitchen. Now when Charlie is finished and he sees Peaches walk by he wants to go check her food bowl just to see if anything is left, but when he gets there he looks to see if I am watching and if he knows he is being watched he will turn and walk away.

Suzie eats in her crate and protects her domain. When she is finished she will walk out the kennel crate and push the door close behind her. She can’t lock it but she will always make sure the door is closed before walking away. When she wants back in she will open it with her paw. Sometimes when things aren’t going her way she will go to her sanctuary and lay there until she is done pouting. Suzie responds to “kennel up” and “time out”. On those commands she will go to her crate and lay down.

What a wonderful gift God has given to us in our fur babies. They are so precious to Sue and I and will always be a part of our lives no matter where they are. I look over my castle and see all is at peace with Suzie asleep on the couch, Charlie asleep on his bed and Peaches asleep on the floor next to my feet. Sue is working at the computer and me, I’m posting on my favorite forum, it just doesn’t get any better than this.

[Grillmeister]

I got over 300 stitches in my head 100 alone in just my upper lip. I had to have plastic surgery and the surgeon did a FANTASTIC JOB.

OH MY :E

[Susee]

When I was 4 I was attacked by my neighbors dog which I played with everyday ,but for some reason that day the dog became vicious. Our neighbors couldn't prove that there dog had rabie shots so I had to go through the series and to this day I can remember how PAINFUL they were, at that time I had to get them in my stomach. I don't know how they do it now. I was mauled by the dog,I got over 300 stitches in my head 100 alone in just my upper lip. I had to have plastic surgery and the surgeon did a FANTASTIC JOB.

[campingshadow]

I would think the man's neighbors would be able to confirm the dogs were his. There is no excuse to put a child thru intensely painful rabies shots when the man could at least anonymously tell where the dogs are so they could be tested.

It is very sad that that the commmissioners have such little regard for the welfare of animals, but you would at least think they would be caring about the welfare of the child.

[Dixie_Flyer]

Hoops wrote:
Oh how sad for that child. Sometimes the authorities just want to pass the buck or pretend it is not their problem. I hope the paper makes a big issue out of it. Do you think the owners of the dogs got rid of them so it can't be proven they are his? I hope the child will be OK. Prayers for the child. Richard, how is your eye doing?

Becky

I am sure the dogs are gone because of fear the owner will have to pay the hospital bill. Without the dogs it will be hard to prove ownership. Now just what happened to them, that is what I would like to know?

The eye is healed from the infection so I am grateful for that.

[Hoops]

Oh how sad for that child. Sometimes the authorities just want to pass the buck or pretend it is not their problem. I hope the paper makes a big issue out of it. Do you think the owners of the dogs got rid of them so it can't be proven they are his? I hope the child will be OK. Prayers for the child. Richard, how is your eye doing?

Becky