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

[chrisnpat]

Clairs a big puppy, have any idea what breed (breeds) she is? Shes pretty with that black muzzle.

[Dixie_Flyer]

Her name is Claire and she is about 6-8 months old. Clair was taken to the city dog pound about two months ago where she caught the mange.

I took her from the dog pound to Dr. Ford's where she stayed a month undergoing treatment. She is now healthy with a beautiful coat of fur. She is very sweet and gets along great with Suzie and Peaches.

She has had all of her shots and she has been spayed. Claire is now ready for adoption and looking for her forever home. Claire is humble and loves to be around people. She has had a rough start in life, but now is getting her second chance.

[Dixie_Flyer]

We have a new foster, her name is Claire. She is a sweet little girl with such a sad story. I have to run out for a little while to do some errands but when I get back I will post some pictures and tell you about her.

[SGTJOE]

Richard, I don't understand how a person can harm a defenceless animal. I am glad the little guy will be alright. If the lady knows who done this I hope the authorities pursue prosecution to the fullest extent. In my state of Utah they passed a law making it a felony to those who choose to harm animals. I hope your state has the same type of penalty. Thank you for helping. The remark about the look from the dog as he looked at one of the inmates was wonderful. The guy couldn't be too bad if the dog showed that kind of attention towards him. God Bless you for all that you do.

[Dixie_Flyer]

Last night about seven I got a phone call from a frantic lady telling me her neighbor just shot her little dog in the head and needed medical care immediately. Dr. Ford’s office had been closed since 5:30 so there was nothing to do but wait until this morning and be at the Vet’s office when the doors opened. I prayed that the little dog would survive the night and be with us this morning to receive the help it needed.

I met the lady at Dr. Ford’s office and examined the dog for myself and discovered there was an entrance wound just above the right ear and an exit wound just under the ear in the neck. After Dr. Ford examined the little dog it was determined not to be serious and nothing to worry about. Bruce and myself went to the sheriff’s department to get a copy of the incident report so it could be turned over to the right people hoping the man would be arrested and tried in court for animal cruelty. I don’t understand people when things like this happen.

When I went to the Waynesboro animal shelter this morning to get a number off a rabies tag of a dog that had just come into the system I was greeted with barks and yelps from the dogs housed there wanting to get out and go for their walk. The inmates had just arrived to clean out the pens and feed and water the dogs when I noticed how one particular dog looked at one of the inmates. It was a look I had seen many times before from Fella. It brought tears to my eyes to see so much love coming from an animal whose only crime was, no one wanted it.

[Dixie_Flyer]

Grillmeister wrote:
I have been watching pretty close so I don't think I missed it. Did "Bullet" ever find a home?

Maybe today will be his day, I hope so.

[Grillmeister]

I have been watching pretty close so I don't think I missed it. Did "Bullet" ever find a home?

[joang]

Wow, that's a heck of a waist Peaches has now! What a blessing for her and her long term health! Dixie, if you think Suzie's car sickness is anxiety, it should be easy enough to treat in time with a lot of exposure to cars and treats, and cars and short field trips to fun places. Obviously, she's made the mental connection that one specific vehicle equals fun trips and has learned not to be afraid of the beige truck, perhaps a lot of getting in other people's cars and having a treat, or trips to the park and back should help her have more good experiences with cars than the bad ones. Maybe in a few months, she won't be puking at all! Getting in a car will be just one more thing on her list of fun things to do in a day!

[Dixie_Flyer]

Cindy I am looking forward to the Ohio Rally in June. This will be a great time to celebrate and look back on all of the events that have taken place in the last three years. Old Fella would be proud to know all that is happening.

His spirit will live on forever and champion the cause of all of the old strays that are homeless. What a great journey he has taken us on and continues to show us there is still work to be done. I am also looking forward to seeing old friends once again.

[SGTJOE]

OK folks you made me think. My Cookie has never got sick, (to the best of our recollection) in the MH, but has in the car, which BTW takes her to the Vet and Groomers. You may be on to something here.

[Hoops]

Great reasoning. With Missy's car sickness she gets car sick in the cars (which take her to the vet or groomers) But the truck has never taken her there so with or without the 5th wheel, she doesn't get car sick. Go figure.

[Dixie_Flyer]

On our trip to the beach Suzie did not get car sick there or back. On our recent trip to Greenville, SC for Christmas Suzie got sick on the way there and somewhat on the way back. Thinking over her past trips Sue and I came to realize that Suzie gets car sick riding in Sue's white truck and not the beige truck we tow the camper with.

Reading about car sickness in dogs on line there are articles that say most dogs do not suffer from motion sickness but from anxiety. I am now starting to believe that Suzie suffers from anxiety attacks not from motion sickness.

When she was a puppy she and her sisters were carried to the dumpster in some kind of vehicle and left . When I rescued her she was taken from the dumpster to the vet, in the bed of my white pickup truck. When she went to adoption events she rode in the bed of the white truck in a kennel cage with the other puppies. Everytime she was taken away from her security she traveled in a vehicle of some kind.

There have been times she has gotten sick before the truck even moved from the driveway. But every successful trip she has had has been in the beige truck with the camper hooked to it. So I am beginning to think I should paint the white truck beige and get a cardboard replica of the 5th wheel to put in the bed of the truck and Suzie is cured!

[CindyNRoger]

Good Morning Everyone!!!!!!!!

Dan, Lori, Roger and I are busy looking forward to hosting everyone at the Old Fella Rally. Boy has a lot happened since Roger and I hosted that first rally in Branson not so long ago.

We would like to have a few raffles throughout the duration of the rally. If anyone has any ideas or has connections so that we can get some prizes, please let one of the four of us know. You can post or PM one of us. If you are able to obtain a prize, please bring it with you. If you are unable to attend, but would like to contribute, feel free to mail it to us. Dan and Roger both work from home, so either address is fine. Thank you and HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone.

[campincandice]

Dixie Flyer wrote:

campincandice wrote:
Richard, Peaches looks great - any idea how much weight she's lost?

Peaches has lost 15 pounds!

She can probably thank Suzie for all 15 lbs!:B That's great news!

[Dixie_Flyer]

campincandice wrote:
Richard, Peaches looks great - any idea how much weight she's lost?

Peaches has lost 15 pounds!