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]

ElBigDodgeO wrote:

Two weeks after dear Enya passed, we found out that Copper, also 12 years old, has a mast cell tumor on her rear leg. She is having surgery Wednesday. Please pray for her. She is the first dog I raised from a baby puppy. I know I will lose her soon because it's God's will, but it will be very hard. 12 years is such a short time. People with children who never cherished dogs and say to us "it's only a dog" don't understand that it's harder to love dogs because you know that they will not be with you for long, but we do it anyway knowing we face certain heartache.

It's been a rough month............

S.

Sue and I will be sure and remember Copper in our prayers.

[fulltimegrams22]

Dixie Flyer wrote:
Every time I see this picture I believe this was one of the happiest days of his life. We were at the campground he lived in for five years as a stray and I believe he realized that day how much he was loved and cared for.

I think the 3rd statue really depicts Old Fella in a much better way than the others, but that is JMHO. Imagine having it done in black!!!

[lviars50]

I also liked the 1st one better
Lois

whimstock wrote:

chrisnpat wrote:
If my vote counts, I like the first one, I agree with Gentle Spirit, the face looks more Like the dog everyone fell in love with.....

I would agree with you two.

However, it's entirely possible the "feeling" we get would be different from seeing the real statue or another view, especially of the face of the black dog.

Both are very nice!

[Dixie_Flyer]

fulltimegrams22 wrote:

Dixie Flyer wrote:
Okay here is another one, but this one is more $$$

I like this one alot, can you get it in black??;)

Fulltimegrams22

I will have to find out.

[fulltimegrams22]

Dixie Flyer wrote:
Okay here is another one, but this one is more $$$

I like this one alot, can you get it in black??;)

Fulltimegrams22

[ElBigDodgeO]

I like the first memorial statue. It has a low-key ambiance about it that I like.

Old Fella was such a great dog. I only met him once, but I remember how he looked at me so intently, kind of out of the corner of his eye, like he was sizing me up. In a friendly but steady way, like he knew he was not just "any" dog.

Two weeks after dear Enya passed, we found out that Copper, also 12 years old, has a mast cell tumor on her rear leg. She is having surgery Wednesday. Please pray for her. She is the first dog I raised from a baby puppy. I know I will lose her soon because it's God's will, but it will be very hard. 12 years is such a short time. People with children who never cherished dogs and say to us "it's only a dog" don't understand that it's harder to love dogs because you know that they will not be with you for long, but we do it anyway knowing we face certain heartache.

It's been a rough month............

S.

[Dixie_Flyer]

Okay here is another one, but this one is more $$$

[fulltimegrams22]

I like the first one myself because to me the big black one is way too shiny and also agree it is too fit for a lab or Old Fella for that matter.

Fulltimegrams22

[whimstock]

chrisnpat wrote:
If my vote counts, I like the first one, I agree with Gentle Spirit, the face looks more Like the dog everyone fell in love with.....

I would agree with you two.

However, it's entirely possible the "feeling" we get would be different from seeing the real statue or another view, especially of the face of the black dog.

Both are very nice!

[chrisnpat]

If my vote counts, I like the first one, I agree with Gentle Spirit, the face looks more Like the dog everyone fell in love with. The second one, reminds me of a Black panther........sorry, just my opinion.

[Hoops]

The first one has way too much hair for Fella, and the second one, while Fella wasn't as fit, is more of the Lab like Fella. But bet Fella looks like second one now at Rainbow Bridge.

[Gentle_Spirit]

Here's my 2 cents worth. I like the smaller statue. It's the face - it reminds me of the very best photo of Fella looking up at Richard his eyes so filled with love.

What I don't like about the larger black statue is also the face - his face looks alittle forlorn, putapon, sad - that wasn't the Fella we all came to know. I also think the body is too fit and unrealisitc and the tail is so long that it might get broken off or bent - I don't know.....

It's just the face of that first smaller one, full of love and life - I think it captures the spirit of Fella better.

[CindyNRoger]

Dixie Flyer wrote:
I am leaning toward the black statue because it is the color of Fella and shows shorter hair. It is larger than the other one and will demand your attention when you look toward the park. It will be on a marble or either a granite slap with a bronze plaque which will say

"In memory of Old Fella"

I agree. Got my vote!

[Dixie_Flyer]

I am leaning toward the black statue because it is the color of Fella and shows shorter hair. It is larger than the other one and will demand your attention when you look toward the park. It will be on a marble or either a granite slap with a bronze plaque which will say

"In memory of Old Fella"

[Hoops]

Which one do you think looks more like him?? Face on the first one looks like him, but he didn't have that much hair. You knew him best, which one looks like him?