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

[joelbaker]

If I'm not mistaken, the black car is Harley Earl's Buick 'Y' job. It was built as a concept car before the war (I think) and then 'adopted' by Earl as his daily driver for 11 or 12 years. It was one of the earliest concept cars, built by one of the earliest chief designers (of GM), Harley Earl. The white car appears to be a concept from the mid-fifties, though I'm not familiar with it off-hand. On second look, it has three portholes on the hood, so it's another Buick. Great series of photos, Richard.

[Hoops]

Too funny

[Dixie_Flyer]

Finally by night fall I was able to catch the train and finish my journey.

[Dixie_Flyer]

He said he would and so he took me in his car.

[Dixie_Flyer]

So then I went to my other cousin's house to see if he would help me out and take me to the big city.

[Dixie_Flyer]

So I stopped by my cousin's house to borrow his car, but he wasn't home.

[Dixie_Flyer]

The train beat me to the next crossing, clearly it was evident to me I wasn't going to be able to beat it to the next station.

[Dixie_Flyer]

I dreamed I missed the train and I was racing to catch it before it got to the next station so I could board it there. I had the throttle pulled wide open as I raced down the old dirt road, but it was all the old car could do to keep up...

[Dandy_Dan]

According to the weather it was already 81 in St. Louis at 8 AM -there time. Just checked Weatherbug and it says something about a flood warning -minor- around St. Louis in effet until who knows when. The fur kids are enjoying the AC as are we. We are going to drive to St. Louis today and camp at the Casino Campgrounds across from the arch leaving sometime Sunday. Hoping to get a chance to go to the Budweiser farm and see the Clydes. See you all soon.

[Dixie_Flyer]

Summer is here along with the heat. Being able to work in the yard is limited to early morning and late afternoon, walking the girls is the same thing. They don't understand when they beg to go for a walk in the afternoon just how hot is and how dangerous it is for them to be out in the near 100* heat. Mama gives out soon and starts panting very hard after a few minutes, but she wants to continue until she can't go any more and then tries to find some shade to lay in.

The other girls do okay in the heat as they are younger and have less fur. Sue is outside working in the yard right now so I had better get going so I can join her. Talk with you later.

[Dixie_Flyer]

Martyn wrote:

Dixie Flyer wrote:
Sunday we leave for Branson and the Old Fella Rally. I will try and keep folks posted while we are gone and perhaps post a few pictures. This is going to be the biggest rally for Old Fella we have ever had. We have 23 rigs signed up with about forty-six people.

Sue Petty has done a good job this year with organizing everything.

Have a good time FOOFs. We are heading in the other direction. Will be in the Black Hills of South Dakota all next week.

Have fun and enjoy yourself.

[Martyn]

Dixie Flyer wrote:
Sunday we leave for Branson and the Old Fella Rally. I will try and keep folks posted while we are gone and perhaps post a few pictures. This is going to be the biggest rally for Old Fella we have ever had. We have 23 rigs signed up with about forty-six people.

Sue Petty has done a good job this year with organizing everything.

Have a good time FOOFs. We are heading in the other direction. Will be in the Black Hills of South Dakota all next week.

[Dixie_Flyer]

Sunday we leave for Branson and the Old Fella Rally. I will try and keep folks posted while we are gone and perhaps post a few pictures. This is going to be the biggest rally for Old Fella we have ever had. We have 23 rigs signed up with about forty-six people.

Sue Petty has done a good job this year with organizing everything.

[Dixie_Flyer]

Good morning everyone. Gary, Levi used to lay under the dinette table especially when it was meal time, which made it hard to get our feet under the table. With the old camper it was Mama trying to force her way under the table followed by Peaches and Hobo. Suzie never has been one to do that. With the new camper we have a table and four chairs which makes it easier for them to squeeze their way under the table. So we have had to make some new rules about crowding around the table, with three wanting under you have to do something to maintain some kind of order. It's only at meal time we have the problem, they act as if they are starving to death, especially Hobo, the bottomless pit.

If you left an open bag of food on the floor she would eat it all at one time. Now Suzie eats only when the notion strikes her. She will eat her food only to keep Hobo away from it. If she had her way she would nibble at it all day, but the hungry hound keeps everyone on their toes. We don't feed them from the table, but it doesn't stop them from having hope, so at meal time it is the gathering of the fur gang around and under the table to see if there is going to be anything dropping to the floor.

When we travel I have to pack a lot of dog food, so on this trip, being gone for a little over a week there will be more food per pound than we carry for ourselves. Okay I have to go get ready to face the day. Talk with you later.

[Dashonthedash]

My only problem is she likes to lay under the table, especially if I happen to be sitting there. Since it is a small dinette, there isn't room for my legs :B