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

[Code2High]

I think that there is a lack of understanding here, and it may be a cultural problem in the region. Possibly the public at large does not know that, having been told an animal has been severely and intentionally injured, law enforcement takes the attitude there that "we'll get to it when it suits our schedule, and until then (two days later) the animal will just have to suffer."

That is a truly barbaric attitude and course of action. In fact, it is the same thing the "suspect" was probably arrested for. He had a duty to provide care for the dog and the fact that he didn't do so is a crime, even if he wasn't the one who caused the injury. Ignoring the call and leaving the animal to drag his broken body around in the dirt for days is the exact same thing. No better than the acts of the abuser(s) and in many ways worse. This is the kind of thoughtless cruelty one expects in a third world country. Residents in the county need to know that this is the way their law enforcement is conducting business, so they can demand better.

[Hoops]

Is this the picture of the dog that didn't make it, or is it the other dog that was pulling itself around the yard? Were there 2 dogs involved? This is just so sad. People are not to abuse God's creatures. Just so sad. My heart breaks for these poor babies.

Also if the teenage son did this why didn't the parent stop him????

[Uppercrust]

That just breaks my heart seeing & hearing about this. At least the dog is no longer suffering.

[campingchris]

How Sad, to think that little guy suffered so much. It makes me sick to think about people who have such little regard for any life. I hope the father and sons are prosecuted to the fullest extent possible!

[SGTJOE]

If the teenagers did it why weren't they arrested and charged also? How disgusting. I sure hope it is a felony in your State and that it will be prosecuted to the fullest extent possible. It's a little late now but I would still like to know why they did not respond to this when first reported. JMO, but that organization someone recently sent you may be of help in seeking justice for this little guy. Perhaps Nationwide attention on this could help prevent it from happening to someother defenseless creature.
I could go on and on, but right now I need to take my babies and go for a walk to cool down.

Richard, please keep us posted on what happens to those miserable excuses for human beings.

[campincandice]

Dixie Flyer wrote:
It was too late to help the little dog. His back was broken and the nerves severed. The man was arrested by the Burke County Police for animal abuse. His teenage sons supposedly did this to the dog.

How incredibly tragic! There are just no words to describe this horrific abuse.

[Dixie_Flyer]

It was too late to help the little dog. His back was broken and the nerves severed. The man was arrested by the Burke County Police for animal abuse. His teenage sons supposedly did this to the dog.

[Hoops]

Didn't know a new shelter challenge had started again, will get right on that.

That poor dog, and the other one was on my mind all weekend. Tried to call the sheriff office but kept getting a busy signal, so must have been dialing wrong. Will be waiting for Richard's report.

Becky

[maltese-lover2]

OK everyone. Let's get busy voting every day so we don't have to play catch up in the end.

Richard, keep us posted as to what happened to this poor furbaby.

[SGTJOE]

Me too. Hope all goes well on Richard's trip to help. Still can't understand why the Sherrifs office wouldn't respond and then tell me they had received no complaints.

[kokosfriend]

I voted today, too.

Barb

[Poodle_Power]

I voted in the new Shelter Challenge that started today.

I certainly hope something can be done for that poor dog and the owner can be punished.

[Dixie_Flyer]

The sheriff is sending a patrol car to pick me up and take me to the home in the county where the dog abuse has been reported.

[chrisnpat]

Dixie Flyer wrote:
Life is what happens to you, while you are busy making other plans. "John Lennon"


That is what I had in mind...

🙂

[Dixie_Flyer]

Life is what happens to you, while you are busy making other plans. "John Lennon"


That is what I had in mind...