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]

Dashonthedash wrote:
I guess I will have to wear my Drexel sweatshirt again. GO DRAGONS!!!

Be sure and take a picture

[Dashonthedash]

Good morning. It is a beautiful day today, although a little chilly, about 27*. According to the Chinese calendar, it is the Year of the Dragon, and apparently, it is. My alma mater, Drexel, has won 17 in a row in College basketball (23 of 24) and is entering the Colonial Athletic Association tournament in first place in the conference. They are playing their best basketball since the days of Malik Rose (when they won a first-round NCAA tournament, upsetting Memphis) and are currently listed as a "bubble" team for an at-large berth. They will get an automatic berth if they win the CAA tournament. I guess I will have to wear my Drexel sweatshirt again. GO DRAGONS!!!

[Dixie_Flyer]

It has been quiet here over the weekend. I hope all is well and folks are enjoying themselves. We have had a nice Friday and Saturday and hoping today will be also.

[Dixie_Flyer]

Good morning. Well we had a good time yesterday at the RV show in Greenville. There were a lot of offerings to fit just about any budget and life style. We didn’t see anything that tempted us so that was a good thing. Sue and I looked at a motorhome that was nice but when you figured the cost of fuel for a fill up, well that put an end to any dreaming. We really like our Montana and are very satisfied with it. It has been flawless except for the self-inflected wounds with the black water valve and toilet paper.

We picked some brochures while we were at the RV show that included campgrounds close by and we liked Lake Norman RV Resort. So in the next few weeks we will try them and see how it is. It is one-hundred twenty-two miles from us which should be a nice drive in the interstate. We are having an early spring; there is no doubt about it as many Dog Wood trees are in bloom along with some spring flowers. The camper is ready to go and so is the truck, all we need is some time to go.

The girls are doing well, happy and healthy. It is nice to look at them and know how much they love their home. Hobo as you know is our special little girl; I say little tongue in cheek. She is such a sweetheart, just so happy all the time. She really loves the green beans she is getting in the afternoons. I hope this helps her with her stomach acid throw ups. Okay I am going to close for now and do some exercises for my shoulder, talk with you later

[Dashonthedash]

Richard, you have to be careful with NSAIDs; they are known to cause gastrointestinal distress. I am very glad you were able to get relief, and hope that you continue to be well.

Wiley, welcome to the FOOF family. We are approaching 20,000 replies, so it may take a while to get through the whole thing, but it's worth it. A warning though: reading this thread may be addictive, and may lead to a plethora of lifetime friendships.

[dogdiva]

Wiley, welcome to a thread with lots of caring folks and great posts about our furr babies

[Dixie_Flyer]

wileylehman wrote:
This is a really touching story...

Welcome to the longest running thread in RV.Net history and to the Old Fella family. Hope you return often and keep up with the Old Fella story and his family.

[Dixie_Flyer]

Good morning. It was a nice day yesterday. My stomach ailment turned out to be a reaction to Aleve and Ibuprofen causing me to have an irritated bowel. Gas-X was the cure prescribed and it worked. Now on to more enjoyable things. It was 63* when we got up this morning and it is already 68*. There are a lot of trees budding and we have some flowers starting to bloom. The high today will be 70* with cooler temperatures coming Saturday and Sunday. It looks as if Spring is forcing it way into the Deep South whether winter wants to give in or not.
The girls are doing well enjoying their time in the sun with the nice weather we are having. Sue and I are going to the RV show in Greenville this afternoon to look at what is new in the industry. Not that we are in the market for anything, just like to look at what is happening in the RV realm. We have bought our last RV and are very happy with our new toy. I say new, it will be a year old next month and has covered thousands of miles already, but to us it is still new. Our six year old truck has performed flawless since we purchased it back in 2005. Old Fella and Levi loved to ride in it as we went on cross country trips with them. Fella was always sure to stay close to us making sure he wasn’t left behind. I look back of Fella’s life with us and recall how much he learned to love and trust us. He was so happy and it showed. For a dog that was left to fend for himself for many years in that campground in South Carolina he hit the lottery jackpot for dogs when he was rescued. The changes he went through from being brought into our home until he died was amazing.

We discovered he was house broken, trained to walk on a leash, sit or lay down on command and as he became used to his new home we saw a loving pet return to an environment he once had. I would love to know what happened to him and how he became a resident of the campground and why he decided this would be his home. I have often thought he was left there by campers who were not able to find him when they left and so he was left behind. The popular theory was he went into the woods exploring and was caught in a leg hold trap and could not return to his family. He lay there for four or five days gnawing on his foot until he was able to free himself. Thus the reason half of his rear paw was missing. But if that was the case why didn’t the family leave a way to be contacted and let someone know he was missing? Oh well and lot to ponder and think about as I still miss my buddy and friend.

Enough reminiscing and time to get moving, talk with you later.

[wileylehman]

This is a really touching story...

[Grillmeister]

Dixie Flyer wrote:
I am due for a Colonoscopy and that is most likely the next step.

Please do not put it off, it has saved a lot of lives!

[dogdiva]

HUMMMM red laser light ,,,,like on a rifle scope?????thats weird
Hope the tummy is better

[Dixie_Flyer]

Yesterday I woke up with stomach cramps, not unusual for me so I took a laxative to relieve myself. The laxative did its job but I continued to have stomach cramps. Like most optimist I figured they would go away. I continued all day with cramps hoping for the best. I ate light, nothing heavy and when I went to bed last night I still had cramps. So I had a rough night not really sleeping as I would like . This morning I still have cramps so I guess it is time to go see a doctor.

We had a very bad thunder storm last night just before bed time. Mama was so afraid she wanted to get into my lap. Then the strangest thing, about five this morning Mama came walking into the bedroom. I looked at her as I wasn’t sleeping anyway and I saw a red laser light cross our bedroom from right to left and disappear. I lay there wonder if I was really awake or asleep and by the time I figured I wasn’t dreaming I got up to see if I could see anything, --- nothing. Sue later told me she has seen the same thing at night, go figure?

The girls are doing well this morning. They are lying on their beds waiting for me to take them for a walk. I guess I had better get moving so I can take care of them before I go see the Doc. I really, really don’t want to go because I am due for a Colonoscopy and that is most likely the next step.

[Dandy_Dan]

Good Morning, Weather here is as crazy as ever. Was up to 50 and sunshine yesterday and today the high is to be 48 but possible snow showers changing to rain. Have only used the snow blower only once this winter so far. We got Anna a new squeakie toy and she is going nuts over it, grooming it and nibbling on it. when she gets excited all you hear is the thing really squeaking. What a dog. Sarah is doing well and has fun running around. I can't believe how they get along so well.

Time to head for McD's to listen to the gossip and liars club then will be time to go feed the horses. Hope you all have a safe and happy weekend.

[Dixie_Flyer]

Dashonthedash wrote:

Dixie Flyer wrote:
Mama is doing well for her age and keeps everyone in line. When Suzie breaks out into a joyful run through the yard Mama always wants to butt in, I guess she thinks Suzie is having too much fun.

It's a herding dog thing (Mama is part German Shepherd, isn't she?). I call Dash the Spoilsport, because he does the same thing.

Mama is part Shepherd and her job was protecting the cats and kittens from Hawks and other critters. Everything had to have its place or she couldn't keep up with it. I have watched her with her animal toys. She takes them to bed with her and covers them with her body. When Suzie gets one and finds the squeaky thing it drives her crazy and shw won't stop until she has taken it from Suzie and put it in her own protective custody.

[Dashonthedash]

Dixie Flyer wrote:
Mama is doing well for her age and keeps everyone in line. When Suzie breaks out into a joyful run through the yard Mama always wants to butt in, I guess she thinks Suzie is having too much fun.

It's a herding dog thing (Mama is part German Shepherd, isn't she?). I call Dash the Spoilsport, because he does the same thing.