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

[kokosfriend]

Prayers for Dan. I had a hip replacement and it is a lot easier to recover/rehab than from the knees!! I am confident he will do fine!!

Barb

[Hoops]

Prayers for Dan, keep us informed of his progress.

[dogdiva]

Prayers from Texas for Dan, I am sure all will go well and them maybe he can have Sarahs hip fixed
Hope you get the stitches out soon, and your eye will be great

[Dixie_Flyer]

By now Dan Branson is in the hospital facing hip replacement surgery, Sue and I wish him well and pray that it is a success. It is still raining here this morning, but it is warm. The fur babies are all safe and dry with full tummies. The eye continues to heal with the irritation from the stitches becoming less and less.
I am a country music fan and this morning there was a clip of George Jones singing, “He Stopped Loving Her Today.” It reminded me of my short career at Nashville with GRT Records. I got to meet some of the great recording artist of the day and rub elbows with them. I was managing a group from Utah with a guy named John Bateman as the lead singer who sounded a lot like John Denver with a strong talented voice. That was thirty four years ago, but time flies when you are having fun.

Okay, I have to go for now so Mama and the gang can get in their walk if the rain allows.

[Dandy_Dan]

Good Morning, It is 52 here in the "deep North" :B and gray looking. Lori and I are getting together with some of the camping buddies for lunch as my last hoorah as I am going into the hospital tomorrow morning for a hip replacement.

Richard, Good luck with the doctors appointment this morning.

You were talking about your dogs pecking order. Sarah lays close to me while I am on the computer and Anna lays out farther so she can see down the hall as to what is going on and also keep an eye in this room. While watching TV Sarah is either behind Lori's chair, on the couch or in Lori's lap. She thinks she is a lap dog. Anna is either on the couch or on the floor snuggled. They sure get along great.

Hope everyone had a great day. I need to go out and feed the horses.

[Dixie_Flyer]

It is raining here in the Deep South this morning and the temperature is in the upper 60's. The fur gang has taken their spots in the house waiting to see if we go for a walk. I doubt if there will be any walking this morning unless the rain clouds go away, which is not likely.

I was just reminded that I have a doctor's appointment at 9:am, have to go.

[Dashonthedash]

Every time someone talks about dogs' "spots", I remember fondly my "Heart" dogs, Max and Willow. Max was always in charge, but he was a "benevolent dictator": as long as Willow acknowledged his authority (which Willow at least pretended to do), he was able to let her get some "privileges".

When I had the RV parked, the favorite spot of both Max and Willow was under the dinette (Dash sometimes likes to sleep there now, but Lily would rather take the couch or bed if either is available). Max would usually let Willow lay there if he didn't already have it. One day, though, she was coming out from under the table, and Max didn't think she was moving fast enough, so he made his move when she was halfway, effectively pushing her the rest of the way out (he outweighed her 2 to 1). Sometimes, they would both lay in the area behind the cockpit, and Willow would lay her head on Max, or place her leg on his. Max never seemed to mind, and I used to refer to him as "Willow's pillow".

[Gentle_Spirit]

Funny how dogs have their "spots" to lie down. Since I've gone from 4 dogs down to one - each one has successively taken up the top spot on the carpet by the kitchen where they can see what is going on and be close enough to get the treats that sometimes come their way (or accidentally fall on the floor!). Now it is Wolfie's spot. The only time it was his spot before was if he was the only one in the house!

I keep thinking about last Thanksgiving, when my poor Baxter was sick, he died Dec. 1st. Can't believe he's been gone a whole year.

Life somehow seems to go on.

*Good luck with the eye, Richard, you're in my prayers.

[Dashonthedash]

Dixie Flyer wrote:
Izzie wanted on the couch, Mama and Peaches were already there, so Izzie jumped up and squeezed into a tiny spot next to Mama. Mama wasn’t happy and sat up looking at Izzie in his boldness. Then Mama gave Sue and I that look of “I really don’t have to put up with this do I?” So Sue took Izzie and placed him on the bed in our bedroom and all were happy.

Dash likes to lay on the floor next to the couch while I'm sitting on it. So does Lily. If she wants that spot, she'll lay herself down next to Dash and lay her head on Dash's hip. Dash doesn't like that, so he'll get up and position himself in another spot where he can look at me, and Lily has the spot next to the couch all to herself.

Good luck with the eye.

[Dixie_Flyer]

Good morning everyone. The eye is better this morning so maybe it will be okay until my regular scheduled doctor's appointment comes around. The lasting effects of the anesthesia is still hanging around however, maybe in a day or two all of this will be over. And things will get back to normal.

It looks as if we will get a visit from Ida very soon with rain and some wind blowing in from the Gulf Coast starting after midnight. This is a late season hurricane, but we need the rain. Mama and Izzie had a standoff this morning. Izzie wanted on the couch, Mama and Peaches were already there, so Izzie jumped up and squeezed into a tiny spot next to Mama. Mama wasn’t happy and sat up looking at Izzie in his boldness. Then Mama gave Sue and I that look of “I really don’t have to put up with this do I?” So Sue took Izzie and placed him on the bed in our bedroom and all were happy.

Suzie is doing fine with the leg this morning, no limp, no pain. I just finished my second cup of coffee and need to get going before fur gang starts getting anxious about going for their walk. The temperature outside is warm and will be a good morning for a walk, so I will go for now, talk with you later.

[dogdiva]

OUCH I know what you mean about the stitch , it is so frustrating
Hopefully you can get it removed and it wont be so annoying
Glad you are seeing the light..Hang in there

[Dixie_Flyer]

Good evening everyone. Today has been a frustrating day with the eye. There is a stitch that is bothering me very much where the eye was sutured. Maybe I can go to the doctor tomorrow and let him have a look at it. Tonight Suzie was limping on her right rear leg, so I had her to lie down while I looked at it. As I straightened it out it popped as if it was out of joint, now she is walking without a limp. When she was about a year old she was having trouble with that joint popping out. The vet wanted to operate on the knee joint to give it a deeper socket, but I decided to see how she would do if left alone. This is the first time in two years it has done this. So I will watch her and see if it happens again.

Tonight I am beginning to see a little more light in the left eye, so I hope this is the start of the sight coming back. I hope everyone has had a great day and you are ready for the start of another week?

[dogdiva]

Takes time for the eye to get a kick start.....Soon you will be seeing fine

[Dixie_Flyer]

Good morning everyone. The eye is healing and I hope very soon to have vision in it to be able to know just how successful the surgery has been. The Doctor left a bubble in the eye to stabilize the retina until the eye has normal pressure without any other help.

All of the fur babies are doing well and looking forward to their morning walk. It's still a bit nippy outside as it was 39* this morning, but is warming up fast. Like I said in another post I hope to start on the Memorial Walkway this coming week and have it finished very soon.

Thanks for all of the prayers and concern about the eye, I am sure it made a difference.

[Dandy_Dan]

The frost is on the pumkin here. Got up to 28* this morning. The furkids are out enjoying the sunshine but will want to come back in rather soon. We are having crazy weather as it is to get around 50's today and 65 the next 2 days. If Richard wanted to see frost he should come up here or Grand Rapids. :B:B:B
Hope all have a great day and a good week. Richard, we are still thinking about you and keeping fingers crossed for the outcome "post patch removal"