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

[Grillmeister]

I voted too :B

[Dixie_Flyer]

Shelter Challenge

[Dixie_Flyer]

Poodle Power wrote:
Is everyone voting? Old Fella is #10.

I have voted

[Poodle_Power]

Is everyone voting? Old Fella is #10.

[Hoops]

Our Missy snowbirds in TX, in the RVG. Haven't tried AZ, like TX too much

[SGTJOE]

Any FOOF's snowbird in Yuma?

[Dixie_Flyer]

Good morning everyone. It is a beautiful day here in the Deep South. the fur gang is resting and waiting for me to get dressed so we can go for our walk. Hobo was fed separate from the rest of the gang so she wouldn't get into the others food bowl. She realized what was going on when I shut the door on her and left her alone.

Mama, Peaches and Suzie were able to eat in peace without Hobo standing over them waiting to lick up what was left. Mama would sometimes just walk away and not finish eating so she would have some of her food. That created a bad habit for Hobo thinking the others should do the same. Suzie and Peaches didn't like it and would sometimes growl at her trying to get her to leave. So I think this will take care of the problem and no one's food is stolen by another.

It sure is warm for this time of year, we haven't had a frost yet and it doesn't look as if we will anytime soon according to the weather man. Okay I need to go and face the day, so have a great one and I hope you will be blessed by God's goodness.

[Cajungal]

Dixie Flyer wrote:

We were on our way to Cherokee and was about to enter Maggie Valley. The road was winding and it was slow going. We were about to enter a curve when Peaches pushed her head under my arm causing me to steer across the center lane. When I corrected back to the right the truck dropped off the pavement where there was no shoulder, just an abrupt drop of about a foot with soft mud and loose rock. I corrected again, but did not snatch the steering wheel but allowed the truck find its way back up on the pavement. The trailer took a hard lean toward the ditch, but I managed to keep control without over correcting and losing it. It was a very close call on a rain slick road that could have turned tragic. Peaches is now off limits to the front seat.

OMGosh, Richard, I'm happy to hear that you all are okay. Surely your Guardian Angel was on your shoulder that day.

Dixie Flyer wrote:
Anyway, we will be praying that God's will is done and if that is what He wants for us that we will be ready to follow His lead. Okay I have to go for now, talk with you tomorrow.

Will add you and Sue to my prayers. Hope you make the right decision for everyone involved. God Bless...

[Dixie_Flyer]

Hobo got into trouble this morning, again! She is bad about eating any food that is left over, well Suzie never eats all of her food at one time, but nibles through the day. I try to watch over it but this morning while I was giving thanks to God for the food I was about to receive, Hobo was receiving her blessing by eating all of Suzie's food. I heard the clang of the collar on the bowl while I was praying, but I didn't want to interrupt my time with the Lord to go in and stop her so dealt with it after I had finished. She knew she was in trouble when I came into the room and started to run for the bedroom and her kennel cage.

She is now inside her kennel all curled up in a ball trying to act sheepish and innocent of any wrong doing. Sunday when we got home she found Izzie's food and cleaned the bowl. Izzie's food is usually upstairs, but Sue brought it down stairs while we were gone so our neighbor wouldn't have to climb the stairs with her new hip replacement she is still recovering from.

While we were camping Sue made Chili and drained the grease into a cup and left it on the picnic table outside. The next morning I put all the ladies outside on ropes until I could get their breakfast ready. Not thinking I put Hobo on the rope tied to the table. When I came back out she had gotten the 8 ounce cup of grease and ate it all. I have never seen a cup so clean in my life.


She cannot resist the temptation of food in any form. I have never seen her turn down anything that was before her that was edible. She has never pulled anything from the table. like Mama, but she will surf the floor for crumbs. You would think I was starving her to death. Mama went into the trash in the kitchen not too long ago after some paper that was used to wrap meat, well she can't do that anymore as I have fixed that little problem.

I have watched Suzie in some of these episodes and the look on her face tells it all, "I told you, you were going to get into trouble." Suzie is now in the bedroom keeping Hobo company, like two children when one gets into trouble. "Are you okay?" Did it hurt when Dad scolded you? sniff, sniff" Suzie isn't fooling me one bit with that caring attitude and carrying on over Hobo, she is glad it wasn't her getting the scolding.

Remember the Christmas Story? Ralph's little brother is hiding in the cabinet under the kitchen sink crying, his mother opens the cabinet door and asked "What's wrong?" Then he blurts out. "Daddy is going to kill Ralphie when he gets home," he sobs. "No he's not," she says as she hands him a glass of milk. Well that’s Suzie this morning making sure she isn't going to get in trouble also.

Okay I have to go for now, talk with you later and have a great day.

[kokosfriend]

I was going through St Louis area at night one time with BenBen. The road was extremely rough and we hit some loud bumps. BenBen went into a panic attack and tried to climb into my lap. There was no place to pull over because I was in a construction zone one lane. It was scary!! It took a few trips with a tranquilizer and then rescue remedy, but he now travels over bumps without panic. Also, we got a restraining harness and he is connected by a leather lead to the passenger seat belt and cannot get into the driver's lap. Also, he will not go through the windshield in the event of a crash.

Thank God you were not injured!! You guardian angel was right there with you all.

Barb

[chrisnpat]

My goodness Richard, glad to hear you guys are alright. God is on your side!!

Those kind of decisions are very touch to make, as of yet we havn't had to do that yet, but you never know what might be around the corner. Hope all goes well for you and your family. Please Take Care.

[dogdiva]

glad you made it home safe and sound after that harrowing mishap
Rest and regroup.

[Dixie_Flyer]

Good morning everyone, its good to be home. Being on the road is fun but there is no place like home!

[Dixie_Flyer]

We got home about five this afternoon. We had a great trip and time went by too fast. Dan and Lori were a lot of fun and I was glad to see Anna and Sarah. Let me give you a word of caution about allowing a dog to ride in the front seat.

We were on our way to Cherokee and was about to enter Maggie Valley. The road was winding and it was slow going. We were about to enter a curve when Peaches pushed her head under my arm causing me to steer across the center lane. When I corrected back to the right the truck dropped off the pavement where there was no shoulder, just an abrupt drop of about a foot with soft mud and loose rock. I corrected again, but did not snatch the steering wheel but allowed the truck find its way back up on the pavement. The trailer took a hard lean toward the ditch, but I managed to keep control without over correcting and losing it. It was a very close call on a rain slick road that could have turned tragic. Peaches is now off limits to the front seat.

The leaves were beautiful and I will post some pictures tomorrow when things settle down. This will finish our camping for a while as we take care of other things that are pressing. Sue and I have some big decisions to make that will change a lot of things for us. I hope we have the wisdom to make the right ones and that we will be able to live out the rest of our lives without worry and stress. Sue has an opportunity to expand her business and it will leave us more time to do what we want to do, but it may mean moving to South Carolina.

Anyway, we will be praying that God's will is done and if that is what He wants for us that we will be ready to follow His lead. Okay I have to go for now, talk with you tomorrow.

[chrisnpat]

Ditto hear Dan, praying all goes well with your surgery.