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]

Each brick has three lines with thirteen characters per line with a space counting as a character.

[chrisnpat]

SGTJOE, you have some good ideas, with your permission, I would like to post what you sent me in a pm.
How about something like this?????

Burke County 13
We Love You
FOOF's
Or perhaps a larger brick.

Burke County 13
Your deaths have opened the door of
awareness. Enjoy the peace and tranquility
at Rainbow Bridge.

[Code2High]

Okay, how many characters per brick do we have?

[Dixie_Flyer]

We will not be able to put a plaque in the park, bricks will have to do..

[Code2High]

I like the idea of the bricks, but telling the story on them might be hard. A plaque or sign might be more do-able.

One other thing I was thinking is that while Always Remembered is great, I also would like to see something .... and I'm not sure how to word it on a brick... but something to say that those dogs did not die in vain.

[Dixie_Flyer]

what do you think of 13 bricks in the walkway telling the story of the dogs who suffered which finally opened a communities eyes. How many words and lines to a brick?


Let me give this some thought...

[SGTJOE]

I would like to offer a different thought on the Tribute to the Burke County 13. What about 13 bricks that tell of how the community finally stood up to animal abuse and said NO MORE in honor of Old Fella and all the others before them because of one man who befriended a stray one Sept. day.

To me visiting the park it would be difficult to understand what the bricks represented by Always Remembered, unless you knew the story. What took place in that Community is surely a drastic change from the past when people would just turn the other way. It is a direct result of the work the Old Fella story and shelter has been doing.

Just my thoughts.

Richard, in an earlier post you said “As the days pass and I begin to realize more and more how fail we are against time in that we are limited in our stay here on earth, that in the big picture it is not what I have done in this life, but who I have become. What image will I leave for others to measure me by in terms of accomplishments toward helping my fellow man and God's creation? I hope in some small way my walk here will benefit the community where I have lived and leave a lasting impression of compassion for all of God's creatures great and small.

Well, I think you have made your lasting impression of compassion for God’s creatures and certainly your Community has benefited as a result of that one September Day when a man showed compassion and understanding for an old black stray. Weather this recent tragedy ends in prosecution or not, as the first filing of Animal abuse for your County, you have to be proud of your direct efforts in bringing this about.

I’m sure the Lord is as proud of you as your family, friends, FOOFS and Old Fella is.

Sorry, kinda got carried away. Anyway, what do you think of 13 bricks in the walkway telling the story of the dogs who suffered which finally opened a communities eyes. How many words and lines to a brick?

[butterfly_girl]

Richard and Sue...

[Dixie_Flyer]

Good morning everyone. Things are fine here in the Deep South with the rain and cooler temperatures moving in. We still need a leg in the journey for Sallie from Little Rock to New Mexico, is there anyone who can help with that?

Sue gave me her cold so I have the sniffles this morning, pass the Kleenex please. All of the fur gang is well this morning and waiting for their morning walk. Right now they are all lying down resting after their hearty breakfast. Hobo will have to be renamed the “Cleaner”. She waits until everyone has finished with their meal and then goes behind them and licks the bowls clean. I started adding beacon chips to the dog food so Mama will eat all of hers and Suzie won’t let hers lay around all day before she decides to eat. Often when I am not looking Hobo will slip in and eat Suzie’s food so, much to her surprise when she gets ready to eat, it’s all gone!

We are suppose to get more rain today and tomorrow and Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday so it’s nice to have a nice dry home to stay in and not have to worry about the fur babies being outside in the wet.

When I was kid mother wouldn’t allow dogs in the house, so I never had a house pet until I was grown and gone. Now I wouldn’t be without one as they bring so much joy to the family. The only thing is the dog hair that gets into the house. With four dogs it is constant cleaning and sweeping and vacuuming just to try and keep things clean. I have to admit that I don’t do my part enough around the house as far as keeping up with the vacuuming so Sue does most of it. I am telling you this to get it off my conscience and for no other reason. I hope Sue doesn’t read this!!


Okay I have to go for now, talk with you later.

[chrisnpat]

Thats perfect Richard, Always remembered, nice ring to it.


Hope Jewel is alright, and can find her way home.

[dogdiva]

Richard I love it ALWAYS REMEMBERED....

[RogerNCindy]

Dixie Flyer wrote:

RogerNCindy wrote:
Just got word from my Parents that their toy poodle Jewel has been missing since Tuesday. She is a rescue, and was rescued at the same time and was living in the same cage as our Katie. They NEVER go outside, as they've been trained to do their business in one place (like cats!), so they have no idea why she went out, or when. Please pray for her safe return.

I hope by now something good has happened, like Jewel has come home?

Not yet. Today's the soonest they could get a notice in the local paper. We're hoping for a call very soon...

[Dixie_Flyer]

RogerNCindy wrote:
Just got word from my Parents that their toy poodle Jewel has been missing since Tuesday. She is a rescue, and was rescued at the same time and was living in the same cage as our Katie. They NEVER go outside, as they've been trained to do their business in one place (like cats!), so they have no idea why she went out, or when. Please pray for her safe return.

I hope by now something good has happened, like Jewel has come home?

[Dashonthedash]

Simple and elegant, sounds good. Put me down for one.

Sorry to hear you had to cancel your camping trip. I'm spending my last camping weekend right now at Chatfield State Park near Denver. I'm watching satellite TV, surfing the internet on Wifi and watching the dogs go outside onto their xpen-enclosed deck, complete with awning, pad and blanket. Whatever happened to camping? :B

[Dixie_Flyer]

Dixie Flyer wrote:
Okay, I just voted.

I have been thinking about the thirteen animals that died due to abuse here in Burke County and have come up with a way to remember them in the Old Fella Memorial Walkway and still keep it the way it was designed.

Folks can buy a brick with one star representing the life of an animal that has died from abuse. The wording on the brick can read




Always
Remembered


How about that???

Any other suggestions appreciated...