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

[chrisnpat]

Dixie Flyer wrote:
Old Fella Rescue Pet Finder link

Check us out, we look good!

I don't understand why the pictures don't show up. So if you want to see the pictures go to Pet Finder and type in the zip code 30830.

Richard,if you click on there names a new window opens and you can see there pictures. very nice.

[Dixie_Flyer]

Old Fella Rescue Pet Finder link

Check us out, we look good!

I don't understand why the pictures don't show up. So if you want to see the pictures go to Pet Finder and type in the zip code 30830.

[Dixie_Flyer]

Sue is from Grand Rapids Michigan and still has the accent even though she has been in the south for a number of years. I don't notice it that much anymore but when we go back to Michigan for a visit then I notice it a lot.

The temp here this morning is 45 degrees with a high near 70 predicted for the day. And to think I am sending Anna to live up in Ohio where it is like a deep freeze. I wonder if she will ever forgive me? Dan you will have to promise to bring Anna south at least once a year so she can remember her home place and how nice our winters are.

Old Fella and the gang are doing well. Our Pet Finder web site is up and running and bringing lots of inquiries. We added a new one yesterday named Sarah. Anna the Golden continues to do well. Its amazing to see how well she gets around. She has so much energy and what a sweet puppy she is.

Suzie and Anna are still queen at the house, but Izzie is still the king. Old Fella and Levi just let them get by with it because they know who is really in charge around here. I still laugh when I think about Anna getting freaked out with Suzie when she had all that hair hanging out of her mouth. Anna didn't know what had happened to Suzie but she was going to make sure it didn't happen to her.

Sue brought home a power washer from Greenville yesterday to wash the brick fence. I hope I don't knock the paint off when we use it today. Spring is two weeks away, can you believe that?? We haven't been camping too often lately but maybe things will settle down a bit so we can get out more. We will have to work with Anna and Suzie to get them over their car sickness. The last time I had Anna out she did fine, but poor Suzie still gets sick. When we go to Colorado for the rally in June that will be a long trip with a dog tha gets car sick.

Things have been calm around here lately with Suzie and Anna minding their manners. Last night as I sat on the couch Anna got next to me and rested her head on my lap and went to sleep. Suzie kept a close watch looking for her chance to take Anna's place. But Anna wasn't about to leave her nice warm spot on the couch. Old Fella, well he just hung around waiting for his chance to get on the couch but finally gave up and went to bed early.

I will have to get back to my story writing soon and add some flavor to the thread. Have a great day and send some posts our way.

[chemisd]

I wanted to make sure it wasn't Sue! That was very nice of her to make personal calls like that. I wish I had been home. Joe said it sounded like a very southern lady. Have a good day. Feel free to send some of that warm weather our way. It is 14 here this morning and I guess there is some more snow coming tomorrow. There is an old saying that says it snows 3 times after the forsythia bloom. Well I really hope that forsythia is blooming somewhere! I'm ready to camp!

[Dixie_Flyer]

chemisd most likely that call came from our treasurer Louise Dye. She has been blessed by the folks from the thread and is now taking the time to thank them personally when she can.

and let me thank all of you who have taken the time to email Mr. Coalson thanking him for his help.

[chemisd]

Done! The thank you that is....
I guess a nice lady called today while I was at the indoor pool with my boys. She received my card. Would this have been the vet's office? My hubby of course didn't get a name. I think its because he didn't know what she was talking about! 🙂
He reads the newspaper forums and I read the pet one. I have already told him my retirement plans may have changed somewhat due to the Old Fella thread......Years ago I used to say I wanted to be a vet. That was before we went through a bad experience with our dog Pepper. She grew an abscess under one eye. One doc said it was a tumor and we had to put her to sleep. Thank goodness they got a second opinion. It was an abscessed tooth. They took out the tooth, gave her antibiotics and she lived for another 8 and 1/2 years! I knew then that I couldn't be a vet. Now, rescue, maybe.......

[Buzz-ette]

I, too, sent a thank you to Mr. Coalson. I know in my heart that all your dreams are going to come true.

[joelbaker]

Richard, both of you will deserve a special place in your city for all the good you both have done. You two are a team, and the lives you have both saved are creditable to the deeds of both of you. It is an honor to share your story as it plays out. You both are truly an inspiration!

[E_Texan]

Good idea Richard. I just sent a thank you email to the above. Great job you and Sue are doing. Bless you both.

[Dixie_Flyer]

The next three weeks should be exciting for Old Fella as he gets to see the plans for a shelter in his name come together. I know we have been here before but this time I feel we are really going forward. The City manager Jerry Coalson is very supportive as well as Mayor Stone. It would be nice if the people of the thread would send a thank you to Mr.Coalson at jcoalson@waynesboroga.com

The one thing we have now that we haven't had in the past is a commitment from an official saying we are going to put this together. When Mr. Coalson brought Linda Grijalva to the table from the CSRA Regional Development Center this is what gave us hope. Immediately she told us of grants available to rescue groups that can be used for construction. Mr. Coalson added that the City could also apply for grants that could help.

I looked at the City property yesterday and could envision the building completed and operational. Yesterday as I was walking Fella a family stopped to talk. They were telling me how they have been following the Old Fella story and how much it has meant to them. Maybe one day Old Fella will have a likeness of himself placed in a park here in Waynesboro dedicated to his memory and to the rescue effort. Oh well, I can dream can't I?

[Gottahaveit]

LOL...I gotta watch my new frisky 6 mo old Aussie Pup..since he could knock Alice (12 yr old queenie) in the pool in a heart beat. Pups are so much fun but also so much work.. Richard and Sue, your the best.

[Dixie_Flyer]

Dandy Dan wrote:
So, Richard, does this mean that Anna may be practicing up for her new home. Wonder if she plans on teaching Beau and the horses some of this nonsense? If so, we are in BIG TROUBLE. What can she teach our 2 BIG 4 legged critters??:B:B:B Headline in the local paper: Southern Belle goes bonkers and swims in watering trough

Just tell Beau to watch his back when he is drinking from the watering trough!

[Dixie_Flyer]

We have a curry comb that pulls the thatch from the dog's coat. Today I was brushing Old Fella and pulling a lot of thatch and putting it on the ground. You wouldn't believe the balls of hair laying on the ground. The wind is blowing so these balls of hair start tumbling across the yard. Now Suzie and Anna are not going to let this go by with making a game out of it. where is the camera when need it? I looked at Suzie and she has black hair hanging out of her mouth down her cheeks as if she were wearing a beard. I called her and she stopped, turned, looked at me with those ears perked up with this look on her face of "WHAT?"

Anna is looking at Suzie and is so astonished at what she sees she starts growling at Suzie and backing off in fear. She bolts a little and then stands her ground but she is looking to run any minute or this thing is going to grab her and eat her. The hair is raised on her back and neck, her eyes are black and glaring. At this point all it would have taken for Anna to hit the high road would be for Suzie to make a rapid move in Anna's direction. I walked over to Suzie to remove the hair from her mouth and at that moment Anna decides that I am in danger by this beast so she charges Suzie with teeth showing and a snarl on her lips. Then Anna realizes that this beast is Suzie and backs down.

Anna then walks away from Suzie in disgust that she would even fall for such a trick as this and mad at Suzie for scaring the daylights out of her, so as a parting shot she turns and looks at Suzie and gives a snarled gruff as she walks away.

So is a day in the life of Suzie, Anna and the fur gang as we settle down for the day to reflect on the blessing we have to be grateful for. Sue will be home tomorrow from her visit with the daughters in Greenville. Sometimes its nice to be by yourself to just take it easy, but it will be nice to have her home again.

Today I finally came to an answer of why I am so dedicated to animal rescue. I can identify with each animal or stray in that I am a stray saved by grace just like those animals. Every animal, every stray receives the merit of grace when they are rescued. They didn't do anything to deserve it, it is a gift. So I give the gift of life every time I rescue one animal and by doing that I am continuing the chain of love and compassion as it was intended. Keep the chain unbroken and pass it along everyday so others can see life is worth the living no matter how hard it gets. Perhaps someone is waiting to pass it along and make your life a blessing today.

[Dandy_Dan]

So, Richard, does this mean that Anna may be practicing up for her new home. Wonder if she plans on teaching Beau and the horses some of this nonsense? If so, we are in BIG TROUBLE. What can she teach our 2 BIG 4 legged critters??:B:B:B Headline in the local paper: Southern Belle goes bonkers and swims in watering trough

[Code2High]

Baaaaaaaaaaaad little girls!

Richard, Buzz, I'm thinking that if Anna II is scheduled for a spay in two weeks, she should be travel-worthy in a month, easy. So transport COULD occur anytime after the first of April. However, it doesn't have to. If nothing pops up sooner to get her east, then we can stay with plan A, which is the beginning of May, coming back with me from Tulsa via Little Rock and Mickey T, then heading north from LA or Kern county.

I just wanted to throw it out there in case anyone had a bright idea about some dog person coming west a little sooner. No sense tying up a foster home any longer than necessary, I know you're short on them.