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

[E_Texan]

campingshadow wrote:
Good thing I read this thread this morning BEFORE putting on the makeup. First the tears for Newk and his beloved Yorkie and now tears that Old Fella is doing so much better. This is a long running thread for sure, but I doubt there is any other that has us going thru so many tissues every day.

Your certainly right about that Shadow. Fella sure has a big heart to keep trying like he does. Keep it up Fella.

[campingshadow]

Good thing I read this thread this morning BEFORE putting on the makeup. First the tears for Newk and his beloved Yorkie and now tears that Old Fella is doing so much better. This is a long running thread for sure, but I doubt there is any other that has us going thru so many tissues every day.

[woodstick]

That is good news Richard, thanks for the update.

[chrisnpat]

Way to go Fella, Oh and you too Richard. Please continue what you are doing, as it is the right thing for Fella, he wouldn't be recovering like he is, if you were doing something wrong.

[Dixie_Flyer]

This morning Dr. Ford was very encouraging about Old Fella’s recovery. She feels he is making progress and that in two weeks he should be close to being back to were he was before all of his troubles started. Dr. Ford says Fella has a strong will of survival and that alone counts for a lot towards recovery. I take him back next Wednesday for another check up and another shot. The shot she is giving him is to build back the fluid around the joints and help wash out some of the mess that is in them. She liked what she saw this morning and said to keep up the good work.

[bonniesoo]

Bless you Newk....we all understand how hard these decisions are to make but it IS the right thing to do. I'll be thinking of you today...take care.

Richard, please give us an update on our boy as soon as you get home.

[Dixie_Flyer]

T Touch

Yes thanks I have been using this on Fella.

THis morning He fell in the back yard trying to come back to the house and he couldn't get up on his own. I then, unlike last night I had to help him up the steps. I take him to Dr. Ford in about thirty minutes. Bless his heart, he trys so hard. As I have stated before when he is resting he is in no pain, just when he moves about. However the pain is not severe enough to discourage him from moving about. Keep up the prayers and Sue and I will continue to baby him.

By the way, his right rear ankle is better as I have been wrapping it so that it doesn't fly out any more. I will see what Dr. Ford says about that as well.

[dogdiva]

I am so glad that Fella is hanging in there, I know how hard this is for you and Sue. Of course he likes the rubbing with Asorbine, its the rubbing and touching that feels good. Did you look up T Touch on the internet????? Its like gentle accupressure, which stimulates the body, to heal itself...
My prayers continue for Fella and you,

[gary355]

IF THERE WERE MORE PEOPLE LIKE YOU IN THIS WORLD IN WOULD BE A BETTER PLACE YES GIVE THE POOR DOG A PEASEFULL ENDING TO THE REST OF HIS LIFE I TO WOULD TREAT IT RIGHT AND BRING IT HOME IT IS A ANDAMBANT DOG OR LOST AFTER ALL THOSE YEARS AND HAS FENDED FOR IT'S SELF THE BEST IT COULD HE HAS FOUND CONFORT IN THE CAMPGROUND GOD BE WITH YOU

[Dixie_Flyer]

newk wrote:
I've been following the struggles, Richard, and doing a little praying of my own. I hope Old Fella springs back and can give us a little more time before he moves on.

While Old Fella's been fighting for his health, our Yorkie, Katie, has been doing the same. I'm afraid she's finally coming to the end of the line. She woke me yesterday morning vomiting, then slept for most of the day, woke up yesterday afternoon vomiting again so I took her to the vet. (I had put it off all day, as I was afraid of what I'd hear.) He ran a complete blood analysis and gave her some shots, including "water" since she was dehydrated. He called this morning that the blood tests indicated her cancer was back and it was probably time to let go. Her kidneys are shutting down and she hasn't wanted to eat or drink today.

The folks at the vet clinic call her "the miracle dog". Katie was originally diagnosed with cancer in 2001 and had surgery, but it was too late; the cancer had spread. She was given a year to live -- possibly up to two years at the most. Seven years later and she's outlived that vet by a few years, but as much as I hate it, it's time. She's within months of 16 years old, is 95% blind, deaf, has a torn ligament, arthritis and a few other problems.

Here she is the day she came to live with me, giving my daughter a good-bye lick. She had been my daughter's dog, but I took her for DD's last few months of college. My wife died unexpectedly a month later, so (I think) my daughter thought I should keep Katie for companionship. She's been a good friend and companion.

What a beautiful story. Your memories will always be sweet ones and may you be comforted by the fact that you have been there for her and made her last years wonderful.

[Code2High]

If you want to get weight off the dog, WD food is NOT the way to do it. Feeding low fat/low protein food is the exact opposite of the way a dog should be eating to lose weight. Dogs are NOT designed to eat a lot of carbs, and they are natural "Atkins" dieters. The way that "light" dog foods are set up is to cut out the protein and fat they need, and leave in the carbs that require insulin that puts on FAT. Then they add a lot of fiber and other fillers, and the food tastes like garbage. Poor dog is starving from lack of real nutrition, and eating stuff that tastes like cardboard. It's all bad. Poor nutrition and excess insulin will only increase the body's tendency to hold onto weight.

If you wanted to get him on the absolute best thing, I'd say BARF (Bones And Raw Food) which is meat and a little bit of veggies, with appropriate supplements. Or if that is too radical a thought, a cooked meat and veggies diet with NO STARCHES ADDED.

Yes, it is more work or more money... there are prepared diets you can buy, or you could learn how to prepare what he needs. You hardly ever see a "raw food" dog that is overweight, because that stuff costs! I've found personally that I save as much in vet bills as I spend extra on food, though.

And on the (very high up there) side.... if you moved him to that kind of a diet he'd think he'd died and gone to heaven, and if you then do have to put him down, you'll know at least that his last days/weeks/months were made more enjoyable by really good food. And you know, dogs like really good food. They like it a lot. And knowing that my old dog is eating food that is really enjoyable and really healthy... that always makes me feel better.

[Dixie_Flyer]

Gardening Gurl wrote:
Is this the longest a thread has run...
seems, theres always something new on this
subject and i was just wondering about it...thanks ....gardening gurl

I have been told by some that this has been the longest running thread for RV Pet Stop. There may have been another thread that ran longer than this one under a different heading.

[newk]

I've been following the struggles, Richard, and doing a little praying of my own. I hope Old Fella springs back and can give us a little more time before he moves on.

While Old Fella's been fighting for his health, our Yorkie, Katie, has been doing the same. I'm afraid she's finally coming to the end of the line. She woke me yesterday morning vomiting, then slept for most of the day, woke up yesterday afternoon vomiting again so I took her to the vet. (I had put it off all day, as I was afraid of what I'd hear.) He ran a complete blood analysis and gave her some shots, including "water" since she was dehydrated. He called this morning that the blood tests indicated her cancer was back and it was probably time to let go. Her kidneys are shutting down and she hasn't wanted to eat or drink today.

The folks at the vet clinic call her "the miracle dog". Katie was originally diagnosed with cancer in 2001 and had surgery, but it was too late; the cancer had spread. She was given a year to live -- possibly up to two years at the most. Seven years later and she's outlived that vet by a few years, but as much as I hate it, it's time. She's within months of 16 years old, is 95% blind, deaf, has a torn ligament, arthritis and a few other problems.

Here she is the day she came to live with me, giving my daughter a good-bye lick. She had been my daughter's dog, but I took her for DD's last few months of college. My wife died unexpectedly a month later, so (I think) my daughter thought I should keep Katie for companionship. She's been a good friend and companion.

[Dixie_Flyer]

I have asked God in many a prayer that He give Old Fella back the years he spent in the campground living with us. He has two more years to go.

[Hoops]

Ahhh, the spirit is still willing, just the body wearing out.