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]

Thank you for your encouragement. This has been a very difficult time for Sue and I as we continue to work through this problem. We will continue our course until it is finished.

For the sake of the dogs that have been through this hell we will push our feelings aside and do the right thing. Now that we have the sheriff working with us I hope to be able to get a conviction and at least show people the system works even if it is flawed.

I will put my faith and trust in a saying my Dad gave me many years ago. "You will never go wrong doing the right thing."

[Code2High]

As ugly as this episode has been... and it has been plenty ugly from nearly two thousand miles away, let alone being there on the spot... I think it is important to stop and recognize that however horrific it may be and however lacking the initial response was from local LE, what is happening here is actually progress. There was a time when the neighbor would not have had anyone else to call, when there would have been no pressure to do anything at all, and that time was not very long ago at all. This is no small change.

Its a long journey you've started there in GA, and I don't suppose this will be the last time that you find the view nearly unbearable... but the future of all the animals in your county and your state is brighter and more hopeful because you're on it, Richard.

[MrsSoCalToolGuy]

I've read this thread since the very beginning and clicked on almost daily for updates on Old Fella and friends. We attended the first Old Fella Rally and donated when we could...
I found this thread to be up lifting, entertaining, fun and sometimes sad..
But this is by far the saddest I've felt since the passing of Old Fella. Not just sad, but disgusted and angry..
I had to stop reading it yesterday and like another poster, take a walk and cool down.
I'm grateful for Richards caring and intervention. I so hope that justice can be found for these poor dogs, but I won't hold my breath..I watch Animal Planet and some of the Animal Cop shows. When someone is arrested for animal cruelty, they may be fined but never have I seen someone serve time, with the exception of Micheal Vick.
Like others have said, the teenager that was suppose to have done this, is dangerous and should be arrested.
Thank you Richard, for the love and caring you've always given to all these dogs that have come into your life.

Barb

[Poodle_Power]

Richard , I know you know this already, but if you receive any threats from this family please report it and get a restraining order.
Being threatened is scary. When my husband and I were in out 20's he was a police sergeant and arrested a man that wasn't happy about it. He seemed to know where we lived and that we had a 2 year old son. He threatened to kill me and our son.
Findly decided he wasn't going to do anything.

[chrisnpat]

Richard, his last sight and touch of Man was from you, that is want he will remember going to rainbow bridge. Bless you........

[SGTJOE]

Finally Time wrote:
Hi Richard. I rarely post but I read this thread constantly. If your county needs help with prosecuting animal cruelty or dog fighting you might try contacting the Animal Legal Defense Fund. Their Criminal Justice program is especially effective. Quote from their website - "ALDF’s Criminal Justice Program is staffed by attorneys, including former prosecutors, with expertise in animal protection law. Our attorneys provide free legal assistance to prosecutors and law enforcement agencies to ensure that state criminal anti-cruelty statutes are vigorously enforced and that those convicted of animal cruelty and neglect receive appropriate sentences. We work with state legislators to enact felony anti-cruelty statutes in states that do not yet have them and to upgrade existing laws in states that do. The Criminal Justice Program also maintains a nationwide database of animal cruelty cases and current and model animal protection laws available to prosecutors, legislators and researchers." In my experience they are more effective than the Humane Society.

Richard, I believe this was sent for a reason, odd that it shows up a day before this happened. I looked through their website and it appears that they have been successful in assisting DA's in Southern States in prosecuting and obtaining convictions for Animal Abuse. Perhaps your DA could use their expertise.
Also, perhaps through them this could gain National attention and end up helping to prevent future abuse.

[Dixie_Flyer]

Good morning everyone, it’s the start of a new day and I hope a better one. Sue and I will be going to Greenville, South Carolina today to look at where the house has been staked out on the property. This will give us an idea of where the well and septic tank will have to go.

This is a far cry from yesterday’s activities and will give us a break from the stressful situation. We will be taking Mama with us while Suzie, Hobo, Peaches and Izzie will have a house sitter for the day. My daughter Robin is off work today and has volunteered to come and watch over the flock. Our grandson Austin has been playing football this season and so we hope to be able to watch him play tonight before coming back home.

As far as the animal abuse the local DA and the Georgia director of the Humane Society are working together to make sure this case gets to trial. I was informed that in Burke County no one has ever been convicted of animal abuse and it is going to be a hard road to travel. I believe however this case is as clear a case of abuse as you can get, so I am hopeful of a conviction. Like Code2High said, maybe if folks know there is someone watching out for the animals in Burke County they will think twice before abusing another one. I don’t know where all of this is going and I don’t like to be a part of something like this , it is distasteful and downright ugly, but I guess someone has to do it if we are ever going to see this kind of evil stopped.

For too long dogs have been like property in that there have been no restraints put on abuse in this county. The neglect and the apathy of the care of companion animals has been going on for so long people have accepted it as a way of life. There are the educated and the non-educated and the so called intelligent folks that make up our society down here with a thin line being drawn between the whole lot of them. There are some good people who live here, but for too long folks have turned their backs to what is right just to keep from rocking the boat. The volunteers of the Old Fella Burke County Animal Rescue are the few that have taken a stand on the treatment of animals to make sure our companion animals are treated with kindness and given every opportunity at having a good life with great families.

Yesterday when I approached that poor dog, even in his pain he tried to get up to greet me and was wagging his tail in hopes of finding a kind and soft hand to touch him. As I spoke to him you could see the love that he was still able to offer from his battered and wounded soul. All he wanted was to be loved and accepted as a loving creature God had created to be a companion to man. His only fault was that he fell into the hands of cruel people that so abused him that his little frail body was broken to the point he could no longer function as a living being. I am sure there must be a special place at Rainbow Bridge for souls like him.

[dogdiva]

Prayers for your safety, keep watch on your furbabies when they are outside
If threats are made to you, report to the law enforcement
Hopefully enuf prayers for the nasty family will keep them from hurting any thing else

[Code2High]

I'm sure there's nothing wrong with any of them that a well-placed round wouldn't fix immediately. You have to understand that while most criminals are far more stupid than they are evil, most criminals would never do the things these people have. When you're dealing with someone who does something like this, you are dealing with very bad people.

The best defense against vermin is always light, in my experience. Evil and filth will always avoid the light. But not shined by you so much... that creates issues. I'm no fan of HSUS but they do have their strong points and this may be a good time to talk to them. Getting this into the press and getting some heat on not only your (alleged) local law enforcement to do a better job, but actually on the perpetrators, could have a dampening effect on their desire for more contact with you.

[Dixie_Flyer]

Today has been a stressful day, tonight I hope to get some rest. I have found out I am dealing with some very bad people and now I am concerned for my family.

I didn't realize how evil some people can be, but am now getting a picture. I pray for this family in hopes they can see where their life style is headed. From what I have learned today they have no respect for life, no compassion, no fear, neither do they seem to know right from wrong. I don't know at this point what it will take to get their attention, maybe this will be a start??

[lviars50]

If he done this to a helpless dog you sure better not EVER let your kids are another human around him are his so called father IMHO the parents are as bad or worse than the brat.. Lord help me i sure would like to my hands on him.....

Lois

Cajungal wrote:
OMG!!!! Those poor little dogs. I'm sitting here with tears streaming down my face and can't get the picture of them suffering so badly out of my mind. At least, now, they are out of their misery. God bless them. There must be something wrong with those teenagers to want to terrify little animals like this. They need major help.

[Code2High]

I thought we needed to get from LR to wherever Chele is in KS? Chele was going to bring her to me in NM, its on her way.

Or wherever she can pick up from. I have someone actually I could ask that is in Tulsa, pooossssibly someone who could run down to LR to pick up a dog, I dunno. I will check.

It is a one day trip home from NM for me (I'm in the mazda, not an rv) so the fifth or the sixth. Also is Tammy going to come all the way down, or is someone else going to take part of the trip? Joelbaker? One minor issue is that where I am is not pit friendly, so I won't be able to have her hang out here for long. I mean, a day or so I can manage but it isn't like when I brought Anna home and had a lot of play in terms of time.

[Dixie_Flyer]

Code2High wrote:
Okay... I've talked to my brother and it is time to start finalizing dates for Sallie's trip west. I'm thinking that I could be heading home on Sunday, Oct 4 or maybe Monday the 5th would be better. We need to figure out how that fits with the other people who will be involved with the transport.

We need a link from Little Rock ARK to Albuquerque, NM. From Sue's home in Calf Tammy Worley is working on transportation to Oregon. Sue, when can you be back home so Tammy can schedule the pick up there?

[lviars50]

I also called the sheriffs dept Sunday and they told me that this was not true that it had not been reported if it had been they would have responded..LORD I'M UPSET ......GOD HELP THE LIARS...
What can we do
Lois

Dixie Flyer wrote:
It was too late to help the little dog. His back was broken and the nerves severed. The man was arrested by the Burke County Police for animal abuse. His teenage sons supposedly did this to the dog.

[Code2High]

Okay... I've talked to my brother and it is time to start finalizing dates for Sallie's trip west. I'm thinking that I could be heading home on Sunday, Oct 4 or maybe Monday the 5th would be better. We need to figure out how that fits with the other people who will be involved with the transport.