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

[chrisnpat]

Our Nemesis is Pop Corn.........

[Starfire5]

What is it about dogs and pizza? It's the only thing mine REALLY beg for, too!

[colliehauler]

Gary it is imposable for me to carry a pizza box or hamburger bag into my house without the Collies expecting a slice or burger.

[Dashonthedash]

WARNING: ARTIST AT WORK

While peacefully eating a pizza at the dining room table, I suddenly got a strange feeling I was being watched. I looked to my left, and there was Molly, sitting quietly, her chin resting on the table and her eyes boring into mine. I tried to ignore her, but who can deny that face? All the dogs wound up with a small piece of pizza as an after-dinner treat.

[Hoops]

Awwww poor poor Molly. That is how Missy reacts, and she has never had a bad experience. She just doesn't like to be groomed at all.

[Dashonthedash]

Funny thing about applying flea preventative. You would think it would be more difficult to apply on a long-haired dog, but the opposite is true. It's fairly easy to part the long hair of Dash and Molly and find places to apply the liquid, but it's always more difficult on my greyhound, Lily. It seems to be tougher to part the short hair and, because it is densely packed, I can only find a tiny patch of skin at a time and, no matter how careful I am, she shows a series of wet patches on her back for days afterward.

Today, I piled the dogs in the car for a trip to the groomer for nail trims. They were so excited to go for a ride, they all tried to get into the garage at the same time. Dash took a tumble (he's fine) and Molly just climbed over him. They all had very different reactions to the nail trim. Lily was stoic, Dash was a bit squeamish, but Molly was absolutely terrified. I had hoped to make it easier on her by having them use the Dremel, but the groomer had to switch to the clippers for her. Poor Molly.

[chemisd]

That is interesting about the flea meds. My one dog will act like we are going to beat her when I try to put it on her. Then she will go and hide under the desk for a while. I have wondered if she has some kind of reaction to it or that it makes her feel sick or something. I only use it during the summer months and even then will stretch it out to 6 weeks between doses. I know I am taking my chances with fleas, but her reaction tells me that she doesn't like it. That is why I use the separate flea and heart guard meds rather than the one that combines them together.

[Dixie_Flyer]

Dan I hope the winter weather will soon give way to spring so you can enjoy the outdoors. Things here are turning green and the weather is nice. It couldn't have come a day too soon for me. Remember we have a parking pad in the back that has electric and water that over looks the pond. You are welcome to come anytime and set up house keeping, just give us a call and come on down.

[Dandy_Dan]

Good Morning Everyone, The weather here is a very unpleasant 27* with blustery winds and the prediction of somewhere between 7-12" of snow today before the storm front moves all the way through.:( Sure hope spring is on the way.

Richard, we had the same problem with Anna and flea meds. She would act like you beat her for a few hours. Don't understand what gives. I hope you and Sue and the furkids have a wonderful trouble free weekend.

[dogdiva]

I hope you all have a wonderful and safe trip

[Dixie_Flyer]

Starfire5 wrote:
Thanks everyone for all the advice and encouraging words! I really want to meet some of the people on this board that I feel like I already know from being here for the last few years. The only thing that will be holding us back is my husband's work schedule. We have our own business and it really gets crazy. I hope to be able to get to the point where he feels comfortable letting me take the Outlook off on my own to go camping. Not sure he'd be OK with that, but that's always been my dream - to just go when the mood strikes! LOL

Just leave him a note one weekend that you have gone camping, he will find you. Wherever the wife goes the husband is sure to follow.

Now that I have given you some bad advice let me say, good morning everyone. It was raining here this morning when we got up, but now the sky is clearing and by lunch time it should be all dried out. I am looking forward to camping this weekend. We haven't been able to go anywhere since our trip back in December. It seems the problems with the camper are repaired now and we should have a great time in the future with it. I really do like the Grand Junction very much, so I am hopeful.

The fur gang knows we are going somewhere as they have been watching us load the camper. Mama is camped out by the door while the others are on their beds in the living room just waiting for the words, "Let's go". I put their flea medicine on them this morning, Mama first because if she sees me putting it on the others first she runs and hides. It's not that she is that hard to find, where can a 90 pound plus dog hide in a small house? It's just I don't feel like chasing her. Suzie acts as if she is being punished for something while Hobo and Peaches could care less. Okay, I need to start the day. We will be back Sunday afternoon with pictures, talk with you later.

[Starfire5]

Thanks everyone for all the advice and encouraging words! I really want to meet some of the people on this board that I feel like I already know from being here for the last few years. The only thing that will be holding us back is my husband's work schedule. We have our own business and it really gets crazy. I hope to be able to get to the point where he feels comfortable letting me take the Outlook off on my own to go camping. Not sure he'd be OK with that, but that's always been my dream - to just go when the mood strikes! LOL

[Dashonthedash]

In addition to food treats, have someone sit inside the coach while someone else brings the dog to the door. Calmly call the dog from inside. Do not force him to come inside, but let him come in his own time. If he can be trusted off leash, have everyone, including the other dogs get into the coach, then just wait. If the dog is familiar with a crate, put a crate inside the motorhome so the dog knows there is a safe place inside. You may already know that a crate can be one of the most useful things to carry in a motorhome if you have dogs.

[joelbaker]

I can't believe a dog exists that doesn't love the motorhome! Our furkids would bolt through our front door and run into the coach even when we were loading or unloading it! We couldn't keep 'em out! I agree with using food treats with Reilly. Place them first on the lowest step, then move up, until he is following them into the coach. Chances are he'll catch on real quick!

[Dandy_Dan]

Starfire5 wrote:
Thanks, Gary! We'd love to meet up with you! Maybe things will work out that we could make it to Branson, then head out to Denver. We'll have to see how our business schedule looks at that time. Looking forward to doing some camping in Colorado. So much to look forward to now that we FINALLY got our motorhome!

Congratulations on the new grandbaby. YOu might find that if you had known how much fun they can be you might of had them first,:B:B:B

It would be great if you could make it to Branson(my town-I wish). We enjoy meeting folks we have talked to on the forums.