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]

Good morning and Merry Christmas to everyone. It sure was cold here this morning with the official temperature at 26*. Here at the house it wasn't that cold, but it was cold enough. I talked with Dan last night and Sarah continues to adjust to her new home. What a nice Christmas she will have this year as she begins her new life. Dan says she doesn't seem to mind the cold too much, but she doesn't waste much time outside either.

Last year I posted Christmas stories, but I was told they were off topic so I guess I won't be doing that this year. Such a little price to pay for having this thread continue, but I did enjoy writting them. I was looking at the line up for the bowl games and Florida will play Oklahoma for the National title, that should be a good game. I saw where Steve Spurrier's South Carolina Gamecocks will be in a bowl game this year, so he is making progress in the Palmetto State.

She and I will be making our annual trip to Hunting Island for the New Year, but this year we will be staying for a week while our daughter Allison and her family joins us on New Year's Eve for a few days of sun and surf at the beach.

This January will mark the beginning of a new chapter in the Old Fella Story and I know all of the FOOFS will be very pleased. I am excited about the future for Old Fella with the memorial being in place at the new park and his portrait beings displayed at the public Library along with the Old Fella Rally in Ohio. The other news worthy events will knock your socks off when it becomes available to the public.

Sue and I have finished with the Christmas tree and I think it is the prettiest one we have ever had. The name of the kind of tree is Blue Ice. It is the most beautiful tree I have ever seen, new to this area it is a very different tree. Christmas will be special as we celebrate the birth of Christ and the many blessing that have come our way. Old Fella, Levi, Charlie and Sarah have all been a part of the blessings that have passed our way and continued on their journey. But each one has left a special mark in our lives and will forever have a place in our hearts.

Please don't forget Bullet, the little dog that has been orphaned and needs a home before Christmas. I talked with the family last night and none of them want to keep him, so sad. I understand he is afraid in his new surroundings. I hope to have a picture of him to post on the thread today.I also understand he is afraid of children so he needs to be in a home with adults only. He was the only dog in the house and treated like a child going everywhere with his master. I don't know how he would get along with other dogs, but I suspect that would be an issue also. Kind of limits the field doesn't it? But I feel there is a home out there somewhere for him, so let's put our heads and hearts together for this little orphan.

[Dixie_Flyer]

A friend of the family Mr. John Daniel died leaving a 10 year old Chihuahua. He was John’s companion all of his life is and now that his master is gone he needs a home if anyone is interested. I understand he is a sweet little dog, but none of the family wants to take him in.

[Code2High]

Carole, two things come to mind. One, although Wolfie may be warmer than what he's accustomed to, panting and acting hot is frequently a manifestation of stress/excitement.

Two, there are a couple of things you can do to mitigate stress, and you may or may not be aware of them. One would be a lovely little thing called "Rescue Remedy" that you can find at your local health food store. Put that in his water and each time he gets a drink he'll get a treatment, as well.

Two would be Comfort Zone diffusers with DAP (Dog Appeasing Pheremones) which you can get at most pet stores... expensive, but cheap at twice the price for the help they provide and the damage they reduce. But available for half the price on Amazon.com or www.petsuppliesdelivered.com, or probably a few other places online.

Finally (Oh, no, that's three, isn't it!) a good long walk each day if you are physically able, will help both you and Wolfie a lot. Even if he has room to run on the property, a walk beside you... not in front... with no stopping, no sniffing, just walkng... will calm him and focus his mind and wear him out, while it gives him a lot more confidence in his bond with you.

[campingshadow]

ngraef.....should have known I would need the tissues. What a wonderful story. Wouldn't it be wonderful if our fur babies really could talk to us. I can't help thinking of all my animals that have gone on that I would love to see one more time. How I miss my beloved Shadow, who I honor by taking his name as my username. He has been gone for close to 20 years and I still think of him and miss him every day.

I think all of us that have had more than one furbaby in our lives have one that stands out in our memories with very special meanings to us...and Shadow is mine. He was my "old Fella". Each of us are blessed if we find one in our lifetime.

[Gentle_Spirit]

Update on Wolfie: He got a bath and haircut, but he's still too hot in the house. He seems to be doing alright. Yesterday we had to be gone all day and my neighbor brought over her dog, Fannie, and she stayed with him. He hasn't tried digging out, even when he's in the yard by himself when we are home. I think he's enjoying all the extra attention. He has an open wound about an inch long on the front of his left shin. This has been going on for a couple months and I've been so overwhelmed with Baxter's illness that I haven't taken him to the vet. I've gotten the wound healed on a couple occassions, but he tears it open again. I have wondered if it's that "Lick granuloma" caused by stress, although I rarely see him licking it - but he's been limping on the leg which concerns me - so I'll be taking him to the vet. I just have been so upset with the care of sick Baxter, my lame horse (long story), and now this. Not to mention the vet bills.....

[Dixie_Flyer]

It's a beautiful morning here in the deep south with the morning sun shinning so bright. I am so grateful for all the blessing that have come our way and especially those in the past few weeks.

I talked with Dan last night and Sarah is doing well. Anna has decided that she has a friend now to play with. I was listening to Paul Potts sing "The Wind Beneath My Wings" a few moments ago and listening to the words reminds me who is really my hero. What a beautiful song and tribute to the one who is the wind beneath my wings.

Okay, I have to leave now for church, so I will talk with you when I get back.

[dogdiva]

Thank you for sharing that lovely message

[Mymaize]

Tears are flowing. What a wonderful story.

thanks for sharing

bette

[E_Texan]

What a good story. Now I'm crying, but it's a happy cry. Thank you.

[ngraef]

I received this in an email and thought you all might enjoy it, hope it's not too long to post here:

For all animal lovers and especially for those in animal rescue...



Martha's Christmas Miracle

Martha was sitting in her living room watching television this
Christmas Eve, alone as she had been for the last five years. All of
her children had married and moved to the four corners of the nation,
her youngest, a surgery resident at the Vet School across the state
had planned on coming home, but had been assigned to work the
emergency clinic and couldn't find a replacement. Martha told herself
that having Sally working to help the sick and injured animals this
Christmas Eve was worth being alone, besides, Sally would be driving
over for Christmas dinner the next afternoon.

All the animals had been fed and now were safely in either the kennel
building or lazily laying around the house. Martha had to stop to
think how many dogs she had at her house this Christmas, she sighed
when she realized there were 16. She did rescue and the number of
dogs was always changing with some dogs being adopted, and new
abandoned dogs coming in. Feeling overwhelmed by the number of dogs
she had and all the dogs still left in shelters to die because there
was no room for them in rescue, Martha seriously wondered if she
should stop working rescue. If she didn't have all these dogs, she
could have flown to any of her other children's homes for the
holidays to be with family. Besides, the heartbreak of seeing each
dog in such need was beginning to really weigh on her.

Tonight she had a new dog, brought home that day. Martha didn't
really plan on adding another dog but on her way home from the store
she saw a dog lying on the side of the road. Certain the dog was
dead, Martha stopped, to pick up the body and take it home for a
burial. As she got closer, she recognized the shell of an Alaskan
Malamute, the breed she rescued. Covered by cuts and festering
wounds, what fur was left was matted and filthy, it was so skinny
that laying there you could see each rib and it's hipbones were the
widest part of his body.

With tears in her eyes, mourning for what once had been a majestic
animal now reduced to almost a skeleton she reached down to give the
poor dog one last pat on the head. "Oh, you poor boy, what a way to
end your life. Well, at least I can name you and give you a decent
farewell." As her tears fell on the dog's head, one eye slowly opened
and the tail gave a single wag.

"You're alive! Everything will be OK now, I'll take you home and you
will have a soft bed and food tonight." She said, tears streaming
down her face, this time from happiness.

The rest of the afternoon was spent cleaning the dog's wounds and
making sure he was able to eat and drink water. Martha set up the
large run in the kennel building for him. A soft blanket and a thick
foam pad was to be his bed, fresh water and food beside him. Papers
for his 'necessary functions' were placed at the far end of the run.
He lay there watching every move she made.

Martha left the dog resting on his bed, somewhat surprised at the
reaction of the rest of the dogs in the kennel. Pandemonium usually
broke out with all the other dogs wooing and barking when a new dog
was brought in, tonight all the other dogs just stood and silently
watched as Martha cared for the new dog. Thankful the other dogs were
not disturbing the new boy, Martha went to the house to finish
preparations for tomorrow's dinner.

Later that evening Martha went down to the kennel to check on the new
boy and feed the other dogs. As she walked in the door the new boy
shakily stood to greet her. As she was straightening up the kennel
after feeding and exercising the dogs, she saw her microchip
reader. "Well, this will be a waste of time" she thought as she ran
the reader over the dog's body.

BEEP! The reader had located a chip! Writing the number down, she
hurried to the house to call the chip registry and report the found
dog. As she suspected on Christmas Eve, all she got was a machine.

Very late that night, the phone rang. Martha answered and a strange
voice was on the other end. "Did you find a dog with a
microchip?" "Yes, are you the registry needing more information? "
Martha asked. "No, the registry called us and told us you found our
dog!" and then the man broke down crying. After composing himself, he
continued.

"The dog you found is BISS AM/CAN/INT CH Wasilla's Ice Sculpture,
WPD, WTD, WLD, TT, CGC but to us he is our heart, the love of our
life, Icy. Three years ago Icy was stolen from his exercise area in
our back yard. We did everything we could think of to find him, but
lately we had almost given up hope of ever seeing him again. This is
a miracle. We are leaving now to come pick him up. We are about 14
hours from you so we will see you and Icy in the morning."

Martha was crying, indeed it was a miracle! And the new dog now had a
name, his own name and his people were coming for him. What a
wonderful Christmas gift.

Martha hurried down to the kennel to let Icy know that his humans had
been found and they were on their way to take him home. As Martha
walked up to Icy's kennel he stood to greet her, "Icy, yes, I know
your name and I have spoken to your people. They're coming to take
you home." As she was talking to Icy, she heard the old clock in the
building strike midnight.

Much to her amazement, Icy said "Thank you."

Martha thought, now I am sure I have been around dogs too long, I
could swear I heard Icy speak.

Icy continued "Martha, yes I am talking to you in human language, you
see, at the stroke of midnight on Christmas Day, all animals can
speak. Let me tell you what happened to me today."

"I have been kept in a dark barn for a long time by some very mean
people who beat me and often forgot to feed me. Two days ago I found
a loose board on the barn and was able to escape. I walked as fast as
I could, looking for my people, or at least for some kind person to
feed me and give me a warm place to sleep before I died. I was in the
middle of a big field when I couldn't walk or even crawl any more, I
laid down, knowing I was about to cross to the Rainbow Bridge. As I
stepped onto the Bridge, an Angel came towards me."

"Icy," the Angel said "If you agree, He has a job for you before
cross the Bridge. There is a very kind human who needs you today to
restore her sprit."

"Of course I agreed to help a human -- that is what Malamutes do. The
Angel picked up my body and carried it to the side of a road and laid
it down. The next thing I remember is you were scratching my ear and
talking to me and your tears were falling on my face. You have cared
for me this day."

Martha heard a chorus of voices all about her. To her amazement she
was surrounded not only by her dogs, but dogs she had rescued and
sent on to forever homes, all voicing stories how Martha had cared
for them and restored them to health and loved them, thanking her for
her love.

The first Malamute Martha had rescued many years ago stepped to the
front of the gathering and said, "Martha, you took us in to your
home, cared for us, healed us both in body and spirit then, even
though it broke your heart, sent us on to our new forever families.
This gave us a life we would never have had without you. Others of us
here, never were adopted and lived out our lives with you, loved and
cared for as if we were your own dogs. In our hearts we are your
dogs. Thank you."

Then one small mixed breed puppy stepped forward from the back and
said, "Miss Martha, you never held me nor fed me, you see I am
speaking for all the shelter dogs and cats gathered here for which
you did all you could. We understand that you can't save us all, but
you read our shelter stories, knowing we would cross the Bridge
without knowing a home of our own, and you cried for us. We thank you
for that. You see, we knew you cared and loved us, too. And that love
helped us as we crossed. We thank you and all the
other Rescuers for that small act of love."

Icy looked at Martha and told her, "It is getting late and you will
have many people here tomorrow to celebrate Christmas. And you have
your rescue work to continue. Our time to be able to talk to you is
growing short, but always remember what happened tonight. What you do
for the animals is a gift to us and to Him, the Father of us all.
Each of us, animals of every species, needs people like you. Please
keep on helping. You are doing the work of Angels."

At that point all of the dogs in unison said "Thank You," and their
voices blended into a joyous howl which echoed from the heavens to
the ends of the earth.

Humbly offered as a Christmas Gift to all who love animals.

[Dixie_Flyer]

I have been watching Suzie and Peaches play with their toys, having the best time finding the spot to squeeze to make the noise. Its like having children all over again except this time around they don't talk back to you and want to borrow the car.

Dan called this morning to tell us Sarah was having a good time and they were enjoying her as well. It's turning cold outside but not as cold as it is up North of us in the snow country. I am about to go and fix me a bowl of hot oatmeal to warm the bones so I am going for now and I will talk with you later.

[maltese-lover2]

Well said Richard. What a talent you have with words. Yes, it is hard being a foster parent. That's how we started and since we are failures, we now have six.

Carole, so sorry to hear of your loss of Baxter. Unfortunately, it never gets easier.

The painting of Old Fella is absolutely beautiful.

gigi

[dogdiva]

That picture of Fella is just wonderful. Many thanks to the great artist and Dr DOug

[Dixie_Flyer]

When I see pictures like the one with Lori and Sarah it lets me know that all of what we go through is worth all the effort and money spent. Sarah was left to die on a Georgia highway, discarded like a piece of trash after being run over by a vehicle. Some kind hearted people stopped to help her and and that is how Sarah came to us.

Sue and I labored most of all Friday night keeping her alive and out of pain. Saturday morning she was taken to Dr. Jim who reset her hip and leg and stitched up her wounds. She then came back to us for healing and the love and trust she gave was infectious as Sue and I fell in love with her.

Then we had to give her up for adoption when the right family answered the call to Sarah's needs. Being a foster is hard, but it is so rewarding everytime one of these helpless souls pass through your arms on to the ones who will always be there for them. As I look back over the years at all of the babies and adult fur children that have graced our home I thank God for the opportunity to have been blessed and to be a blessing to those that get another chance at life.

The hard part is remembering that if you keep everyone of those poor souls, soon you won't be able to help the countless others that would be in need of help. That is why Sarah, even as special as she is went on to be adopted by Dan and Lori. Now Sarah has opened the door for others of her kind to receive the same help she was given. Sue and I will continued to be blessed by others who will pass our way and then find families of their own. Just think of it this way, We have children scatterd all over the United States that once passed through and touched our lives. What a blessing!

[Dixie_Flyer]

Well, there are two happy souls.