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

[TomW2]

Richard,

I have a feeling that the Joint Strong just may be the thing for Mama. I've had a mostly 3 legged dog for the past several weeks. She was using the leg a bit more but only when going quite slow. I got some Joint Strong Thursday night at Petco (certainly no discount) and Sunday she jumped up on the couch without any help for the first time since she started holding the foot off the ground.

[kokosfriend]

Dan - thanks for bringing us updates during this time. We are addicted to updates from Richard and this enables us to get out "fix." Hope Mama is feeling better.

Barb

[Dandy_Dan]

Good Morning FOOF's, Talked to Richard on the phone last night as he wanted to update me on his lovely weather. Augusta-about 35 miles north- was expecting up to 5" of SNOWand was already shutting things down. richard was unsure how much they were going to get. Hopefully all this passed as he wanted to take his 5er in and get it fixed. Then he would be ready to blast off for warmer climates at The Rally. He said that they had things in bloom down there and was unsure what the weather was going to do to things. Of course, I had to chuckle about the weather as I always tease him about our wonderful weather up here and he tells me how he freezes when they go up to Sue's home in Michigan. that is all for now. Hope he gets his DSL back up and running. Have a good and safe day.

[Dandy_Dan]

Good Afternoon FOOF's
Richard called me and wanted everyone to know that they had a bad storm go thorugh last night and that his DSL was out and would not be able to be fixed until tomorrow. He will not be able to post. Richard was on his way to feed the kitties and might have to go around the way to get to them due to the rain last night and the mud going to the trailer. He also said that Mama had a bad day yesterday and was not getting along very well. He gave her a double dose of Tramadol in addition to the Medicam and today she seemed to be feeling better and moving better.

Richard said that Waynesboro has put cameras on the dumpster sites to attempt to see who was dumping trash from out of the county. Wouldn't it be great if one of the cameras happened to see someone dumping animals off at the dumpsters?

Richard and Sue are fine and no damage from the storm other than the DSL. He will be back on the forums tomorrow. So long for now.

[Gentle_Spirit]

Last night was not good. I took Wolfie out to potty before going to bed and put him in the carpeted garage where he sleeps. Then I took the black dog, we're calling Bear to potty. I decided to tie Bear up on the deck where he'd been for a few hours and let him sleep there. When I quietly took Bear out to the potty area I could hear Wolfie having a fit howling and barking in the garage. I put Bear back on the deck and went and told Wolfie to go lie down and be quiet (using the dog whisperer's "no rewards for bad behaviour" attitude). Then I stood outside the garage and listened, sure enough he started in again and I could hear alot of noise - he was tearing up the carpet. I told him again to go lie down. Then waited. I could hear him panting on the other side of the door, but he was quiet, so I went in and sat with him for about 10 minutes. Finally because he seemed so upset and was panting, I went and got the rescue remedy and gave him some and sat with him some more. Then I went in the house (which is detached from the garage) and went to bed. However, my husbands snoring was so loud, I couldn't hear anything! Finally I realized that Wolfie was having a fit again and went out there - he was scratching at the door and pulling up the carpet, howling and barking. The last time he did this was when Baxter was dying and sleeping in the house with me. He was in a full blown anxiety attack - even with me trying to comfort him, and the rescue remedy did nothing. I put him in his fenced yard because I didn't know what he'd do to the garage. Then I slept on the couch where I could hear him. I don't think there is anyway he's going to be able to travel with us in the motorhome.....I don't know what to do. Also, he's been to the vet and it's not a physical problem. UGH!

[SGTJOE]

What is it with these idiots who let their dogs run loose. Tonight, here in Yuma I was walking around the RV park when I ran into a Border Collie who wanted to play ball. He was loose and I didn't see anyone around. So we played ball for awhile and I walked around until I found where he belonged. The owner seemed really upset when I told him that I found his Dog a few rows over and I was concerned for the dogs welfare. I felt like just taking the dog and giving him a loving home.
Not so long ago prior to finding this forum it would not have bothered me. Now thanks to Richard and the Old Fella Forum my views have changed on how pets are treated. Can't believe I'm becoming such a softie

[Code2High]

Carole great work getting him out of the road... now Quick, call the Dog Whisperer! Tell them you need some help with Wolfie so you can save this poor dog's life...

Then call me so's I can come watch. How's that for a plan?

[Gentle_Spirit]

Thanks all for the camping info, will look into it.

Had an interesting experience today. On my way home from Palm Springs there was a dog running in the highway - cars whizzing by - he was exhausted. He looked like a dog one of my neighbors had found a few months ago, but his wife doesn't like muts and wouldn't let him keep it. I heard that she took him to the local vet who recognized him as living nearby and she then dumped him where she thought he lived. I was upset when I heard that because he was a very nice dog. Anyway, when my husband suggested turning around I said "I just don't want to see him get run over." Which I thought was going to happen. Well, we turned around and the dog came right up to me, I was sure he was the same one. He jumped right in the truck. We stopped at the neighbors house and he confirmed it was the same dog. We brought him home, but stopped nearby and I had a friend walk him on a leash while my husband went home and put Wolfie on a leash to meet us halfway (on neutral territory). Wolfie attacked the dog. The dog ran right to me crying (he wasn't hurt, but kept crying). Now I have Wolfie in the house and the dog tied up on the deck. Obviously I can't keep him, and don't know what to do. He was starving and ate alot of kibble and chicken, plus drank alot of water. He is soooo sweet. The neighbor who had him before said he'd pay half to get him neutered. I wish I had some idea of what to do. There is no-way I would ever trust Wolfie with him after the attack. He actually looks just like Annie, but pure black. We're calling him Bear. Tomorrow I'll call a local rescue called ARF, Animal Rescue Friends. Maybe they can help. When we talked to the neighbors they said that the owner keeps dumping him in our nice neighborhood hoping someone will adopt him. This sweet dog has been lucky so far, and I'm NOT taking him back to that owner. I'll deal with keeping him and Wolfie seperated before I'd take him back there. He likes cats and will sit and lie down on command.

[mistressofdistr]

Happy Birthday Dandy Dan

[Dixie_Flyer]

The memorial for Old Fella will be April 30th at 10:Am at the Waynesboro City Park located on Liberty Street. All who can attend are invited to this tribute to Old Fella. The memorial service will be conducted by Mayor George DeLoach, County Commissioner Chairman Wayne Crockett and President of the Old Fella Burke County Animal Rescue Bruce Storm.

For those who wish to stay at a campground there is a beautiful State Park just 12 miles south of Waynesboro. Magnolia Springs can accommodate campers of any size. Besides having a friendly staff you will enjoy the nature trails and the parks back to nature theme. Magnolia Springs was once a prisoner of war camp during the Civil War and you can visit the site and read about its history. Not far from the park is Buck Head Creek Baptist Church where a battle took place between the North and the South in Sherman’s march to the sea in the closing days of the war. Confederates burned the bridge that crosses Buck Head creek to keep the advancing Northern army from crossing at that point. The Church was dismantled to rebuild the bridge and the oak wooden pews were used as runners for the wagons to cross over on.

When the war was over the church was rebuilt using the same lumber that was used to build the bridge and the wooden pews were reassembled and placed back in the church. For many years visitors could see the huff prints of the horses in the wooden pews and the prints the wagon wheels made as they crossed the creek. Over the years the wooden pews disappeared, but the pews that are there now are replicas of the original pews. Services are held there every Easter Sunday as people gather from the churches in the area to celebrate the risen Lord.

I hope many can come to celebrate the life of Old Fella and what he continues to accomplish representing all the “Very Old Strays” of this Nation. You have helped make all of this possible, come and see what you have help build here in Waynesboro, Georgia, the “Home of Old Fella”.

Magnolia Springs State Park

[StuckinTracy]

Gentle Spirit wrote:
- does anyone know if we could stay at a nearby less expensive campground and just go to the Rally by car on the day Richard gets his award?

Carole;
You can buy a pass (Passport) for all 4 days that includes all the seminars and entertainment for $75 per person. You can also just buy a Day Pass for $10 per person. This only gets you in to the exhibits but does not include any seminars or nightly entertainment (these you buy at the door when you get there). The trick at this late point will be making reservations at a CG. A lot of people stay somewhere else and just buy the Passports. As somebody already mentioned, the CG's are already getting reservations for next years rally.

[Dandy_Dan]

Dixie Flyer wrote:

Gentle Spirit wrote:
Sending prayers and lots of love to Momma.....

My husband has pretty much nixed the idea of spending $350 for the Rally in Alburquerque - does anyone know if we could stay at a nearby less expensive campground and just go to the Rally by car on the day Richard gets his award? Sure would love to go, even if it's only for one day. Everyone could meet Wolfie - the motorhome tearer-upper!

There are several nice campgrounds in the area and I would be willing to say you can pay for a one day pass to any of the events. Dawn’s number is (800) 679-9770, ext. 408. Give her a call and see what she has to say.

Carole, The campground I am going to meet up with Richard at is the Albuquerque Central KOA. This is only about 4 miles from the Convention Center where the Rally is being held. If you are not a member of KOA then the rate is around $53 for a pull thru with Water, Electric and sewage. They also have wi-fi. Sure hope you can make it.

[Dixie_Flyer]

Gentle Spirit wrote:
Sending prayers and lots of love to Momma.....

My husband has pretty much nixed the idea of spending $350 for the Rally in Alburquerque - does anyone know if we could stay at a nearby less expensive campground and just go to the Rally by car on the day Richard gets his award? Sure would love to go, even if it's only for one day. Everyone could meet Wolfie - the motorhome tearer-upper!

There are several nice campgrounds in the area and I would be willing to say you can pay for a one day pass to any of the events. Dawn’s number is (800) 679-9770, ext. 408. Give her a call and see what she has to say.

[Gentle_Spirit]

Sending prayers and lots of love to Momma.....

My husband has pretty much nixed the idea of spending $350 for the Rally in Alburquerque - does anyone know if we could stay at a nearby less expensive campground and just go to the Rally by car on the day Richard gets his award? Sure would love to go, even if it's only for one day. Everyone could meet Wolfie - the motorhome tearer-upper!

[Dixie_Flyer]

Code2High wrote:
Richard, was Mama acting this painful before the incident with struggling to get up on the linoleum?

No she wasn't, but she seemed to have gotten over that little episode. I went into the bedroom a while ago to fold clothes and Mama came in there and went into Peaches' kennel crate. I had already set up another crate in the beroom so I just moved Peaches into it. I gave Mama a tramadol and she is resting now so maybe she will feel better in the morning. She seems to be having a lot of trouble with her right rear leg and hip so I hope the medications will take effect soon. Poor Hobo seems displaced as she wants to go to her kennel, but she won't leave Mama. There is an extra bed in the bedroom, but Hobo doesn't want anything to do with it.

This brings back memories of Fella with his ups and downs. Fella was such a fighter and it was hard to keep him down no matter how bad he hurt. I was just dumbfounded when I found out Fella had a broken bone at the shoulder. I never knew the pain he was in until just a few weeks before he went to Rainbow Bridge. He still managed to wag his tail and would always be playful when I would pay him attention. Up until that Saturday he was happy and content.

I don't know how much of a fighter Mama is, but I think we are about to find out. I do know one thing about her and that she loves me as much as Fella did and wants very much to please. So just say a prayer for Mama and lets hope for a better tomorrow.