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

[det62]

The banner looks great !!!

How did your fur-babies react when you two came back home :@

[Dashonthedash]

Carole, glad to hear that Wolfie's going to be OK. I remember Max and Willow, my Heart Dogs (not that every dog I ever had hasn't been a heart dog). I had a 1988 Izuzu Trooper that had padded carpeting in the cargo area. I said had. Every time I would leave the dogs in the car, I would come out and find some of the padding spread out over the cargo area. The carpeting was never touched except to get the padding out from under it. The dogs would always act innocent (they are all experts at that), so I could never tell which of them were tearing up the padding, and I could never catch them at it. By the time I sold the car in '96, I still had both dogs, but I no longer had padded carpeting. Dash and Lily are pretty good in the MH, though, but they at least have one bad habit. My yard looks like a war zone, or the surface of the moon. They do have one thing in common with Max and Willow, though: I still can't figure out which of them is doing it :B

Richard, great banner. Can't wait to see it in Albuquerque.

Gigi, you have 7 now? Looks like I'll have to edit the Rally post again :B

[maltese-lover2]

The banner looks great. At least we'll be able to find you in April. Sandi, a great big "thank you" for taking the responsibility of Mama kitty and her babies. It's people like you that make this whole thing work. And Richard, thanks to you for taking the time to look for a foster home. To all who are going to NM in April, you can find us by the 7 maltese (all rescue). Can't wait to meet everyone.

Gigi

[Dixie_Flyer]

SGTJOE wrote:
Richard, love the banner. This morning here at the rv park in Yuma I saw a 40' MH with a huge fence set up for their furbabies, all NINE of them. They're show dogs and the smallest was a Greyhound. I thought of you when you were wondering how you were going to get out when you had all 5. Too bad I didn't get a picture. 7 of them were Golden Retrievers and the other one was a Lab. They had Washington plates. And I sometimes feel overwhelmed with the 2 Shih Tzus, 2 Cats and the 2 Turtles, not anymore.

All I can say is, I'm glad its them and not me!

[SGTJOE]

Richard, love the banner. This morning here at the rv park in Yuma I saw a 40' MH with a huge fence set up for their furbabies, all NINE of them. They're show dogs and the smallest was a Greyhound. I thought of you when you were wondering how you were going to get out when you had all 5. Too bad I didn't get a picture. 7 of them were Golden Retrievers and the other one was a Lab. They had Washington plates. And I sometimes feel overwhelmed with the 2 Shih Tzus, 2 Cats and the 2 Turtles, not anymore.

[Hoops]

Richard, great pictures. I bet the banner would attract alot of notice. Great banner by the way.

Becky

[chrisnpat]

Congrats on the banner Richard......it should have your picture on it, instead of Good Sam....:B


Gentle Spirit I'm glad to hear Wolfie is going to be alright. We had a 4-year-old Cocker that torn the MH up every time we left her. You would be surprised how much damage a little 20pd insecure puppy can do.


Thank You Sandy.


Chris

[Dixie_Flyer]

TomW2 wrote:
When I was about 20 I had my first personal dog - a little one weighing less than 20 pounds. One time I took her with me in the car when I went shopping. I came out of the store to discover she had tore up the vinyl covered foam padded dash on the passenger side. This wasn't the first time I had taken her with me and left her in the car so I don't know what set her off to do that.

Great banner, Richard. I assume Good Sam provided it.

Now you are showing your age:)

Yes Good Sam had the banner made for me. When we went to St. Augustine this past weekend people in the campground noticed it and came over to say hi. Met some very nice folks that I wouldn't have other wise.

[TomW2]

When I was about 20 I had my first personal dog - a little one weighing less than 20 pounds. One time I took her with me in the car when I went shopping. I came out of the store to discover she had tore up the vinyl covered foam padded dash on the passenger side. This wasn't the first time I had taken her with me and left her in the car so I don't know what set her off to do that.

Great banner, Richard. I assume Good Sam provided it.

[CindyNRoger]

Great story Richard! Started my day off with a good laugh. :B

CONGRATS on the new banner! Very well deserved!!!!!

So glad Wolfie is getting better - prayers still in-bound.

[Dixie_Flyer]

I am glad that Wolfie's problems are not what you feared. Sounds like with the right medication he will be fine. The issue with him tearing out the screen and chewing up things reminds me of a story.

My mother-in-law had a Weimaraner that tore the inside of her brand new car to shreds while she was getting her hair fixed. The dog became a lifelong companion that could not be out of her sight. The dog was supposed to be a hunting dog for my father-in-law, but he had to find another one that would go with him as Duke refused to do anything without mom being involved.

It was suggested that Ted buy Minnie a shotgun and take her with him. But that fell on deaf ears as he couldn't stand the thought she might be a better shot than him. Then there was the Thanksgiving that Minnie decided to have the turkey for dinner that had been hanging around the yard. So while Ted, the great white hunter was out hunting to bring back a few Pheasants, Minnie and Duke went after the turkey. Now this was during the depression so food was precious and hunting laws were secondary to a great Thanksgiving dinner. Somehow Minnie managed to catch the turkey with Duke’s help so she brought it into the house to cut off its head, that’s when the Turkey managed to get loose from Minnie and began flying all over the house with Duke in hot pursuit. By the time Ted got back from hunting the house was a wreck, Minnie was exhausted from cleaning the bird stuff off the walls and floor and the turkey, he managed to make his escape out the kitchen door. Ted stood in the middle of the kitchen and looked at Minnie and made the mistake of asking, “Well what have you been doing all day?” Poor man!!

I have said all of this to say, Look at all the memories you are building!!!

[Scottiemom]

So glad Wolfie is on the mend. Is it possible to crate him when you leave the MH? We crate our two Scotties. As soon as the crate goes up (we actually use a small ex-pen because Scotties, as you know, can't jump!) they are waiting for their cushions and their treats. They sleep till we return.

Thank you, Sandi, for giving the momma cat and her kittens a home and thanks to Richard and Sue for taking them in and helping to save them. You truly are doing God's work in saving his creatures.

I LOVE the banner. I hope some time to meet you on the road and thank you in person for all you do.

Dale

[Dandy_Dan]

Carole, Glad to hear that Wolfie's problems can be taken care of. Too bad he had to show his love via the upholstery in the new MOHO. Still looking forward to meeting you in Albuquerque......

[dogdiva]

So glad to hear Wolfies problems are fixable. Thanks for the good update

The DAP might help, but I think that the OUTSIDE noise stirred up Wolfie. Maybe parking where there wont be alot of things stirring around outside the RV

[Code2High]

Glad to hear that it is an identifiable problem and something that can be fixed. Have we tried the Comfort Zone (DAP) with Wolfie?