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]

My wife has decided she wants a lap dog for Mother's Day and I am insisting on a rescue dog, thanks to Richard and Old Fella. Our other two dogs - Golden Retriever and Corgi - don't quite qaulify, though the Golden tries to be a lap dog. Finding the right Shih Tzu or similar mix is tricky. I feel good, that this is the right thing to do. Now to find the right dog - able to deal with three teens, two other dogs, cats, rabbits, and loves camping. Oh, and doesn't bark a lot!

[DIXIESMAMA]

Please pass my condolences. It is sad to lose a friend.

DIXIESMAMA

[Dashonthedash]

This was so sudden and unexpected. My deepest condolences to Pixie and to Bill's family and many friends. I have fond memories of meeting Bill and Pixie at the Branson Rally last year, and will always remember him as a kind and friendly man. We will all miss him.

[bonniesoo]

Richard: So very sorry to hear of Bill's passing. Please pass on that Pixie and family are in our thoughts and prayers.

[W7SFO]

Richard,
Please pass along our condolences. I am off work to attend a funeral this morning and this type of news is never easy to take.
Ryan & Beth

[Dixie_Flyer]

Buzz-ette wrote this morning in a PM:

Dear Richard,

I am sad to tell you that my Bill passed away this morning. I know he had a lot of friends on the Forum. Could you make the announcement however appropriately? I would greatly appreciate it.


From Dixie Flyer:
I am so sorry to hear this news. Bill was a great friend and well known for his generousity. He will ne missed greatly.

Richard.

[Dixie_Flyer]

mistressofdistress wrote:
Dixie, Sue, Levi and Old Fella we are also going camping this weekend. A short trip to Chickasaw State Park to meet friends from Church.

Anna is doing well in her trip to her forever home and I thank all that are involved in giving her a second chance at life as Old Fella has had.

Have a nice weekend and enjoy yourself.

[Dixie_Flyer]

I want to thank you guys who have nominated me for Animal Planets's Hero Of The Year. There are a lot of others out there that have contributed to animal welfare and we will get to read about them in the months ahead. Once again thank you for your kind words.

[mistressofdistr]

Dixie, Sue, Levi and Old Fella we are also going camping this weekend. A short trip to Chickasaw State Park to meet friends from Church.

Anna is doing well in her trip to her forever home and I thank all that are involved in giving her a second chance at life as Old Fella has had.

[Dixie_Flyer]

Sue and I with the fur babies are going camping with family over the weekend so everyone hold down the fort while we are gone. Old Fella is doing great and is getting on his best coat for the Western Rally.

[colliehauler]

joang wrote:
This is so funny, last night I had a dream that I was going with Anna II! I arrived with a huge group of people for an Anna II rally and Dixie Flyer said I could go with her, even made me a little bed out of towels by the sofa in his RV!

Needless to say, I woke up a bit giggly!

I guess all of us at the pet stop are travailing with Anna II in spirit.

[joang]

This is so funny, last night I had a dream that I was going with Anna II! I arrived with a huge group of people for an Anna II rally and Dixie Flyer said I could go with her, even made me a little bed out of towels by the sofa in his RV!

Needless to say, I woke up a bit giggly!

[W7SFO]

Had I known they wanted her, we would have been happy to not put her though this trip. However we are in no way remorseful that we adopted Anna. The excitement grows as her arrival date draws closer. The bonus of this trip has been the unexpected media coverage. I just hope said coverage helps the rescue efforts by Richard and countless others around the country.

Dixie Flyer wrote:

mrskti wrote:
Richard was there no way the foster parents could have kept Anna-2?

In the very beginning they wanted to foster and not adopt. When Anna was adopted by the Eaton family there was some remorse on their part. By then it was too late to change their mind as a commitment was made to Ryan and Elizabeth Eaton. It has all worked out for the best of everyone concerned. Ryan and Elizabeth have given Anna a wonderful home and her story will help advance the adoption of stray animals all across this country. Irene Pitts and her husband Sam had the experience of loving Anna and helping her recover from her surgery. But most of all it was Irene and Sam that found her and brought her into the rescue.

It was hard for them to let Anna go but now we have room for another deserving animal to come into the rescue.

[mrskti]

I suppose if everyone kept them, there would be no foster parents left!!! Great of them to pitch in. It would be terribly hard for me to give one up. Good thing I'm not fostering Charlie, he looks like a cutie for sure. Looks like my ellie with long hair!!!

We're loading up the motor home, heading back to ILL tomorrow. FIrst trip we've let the girls roam free all the time in the motor home. They did awesome. Didnt make it back to the dog park, but will def. go back next time.

edit: i meant they roamed free while we were in a campsite, not going down the road. They will be seatbelted for that.

[Dixie_Flyer]

mrskti wrote:
Richard was there no way the foster parents could have kept Anna-2?

In the very beginning they wanted to foster and not adopt. When Anna was adopted by the Eaton family there was some remorse on their part. By then it was too late to change their mind as a commitment was made to Ryan and Elizabeth Eaton. It has all worked out for the best of everyone concerned. Ryan and Elizabeth have given Anna a wonderful home and her story will help advance the adoption of stray animals all across this country. Irene Pitts and her husband Sam had the experience of loving Anna and helping her recover from her surgery. But most of all it was Irene and Sam that found her and brought her into the rescue.

It was hard for them to let Anna go but now we have room for another deserving animal to come into the rescue.