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]

Ditto whimstock.

[whimstock]

And me, Richard.

This thread is an important part of each day for me. I always come away better for reading it, whether it's something like this or some funny antics Charlie and Suzie have pulled.

A treasure and just plain inspiring! 🙂

[Dixie_Flyer]

This morning I went to city shelter and helped the inmates with their duties. There were two new dogs there, Pit Bulls. They acted very aggressive and when I walked up to the kennel one of them charged the fence. These two dogs were in portable pens left by Old Fella Burke County Animal Rescue. There was a problem that we needed to solve and that was one of the dogs didn’t have shade from the sun. It was decided that the pen needed to be moved. I told Sgt Mac that I would take the dog out of the pen.

I went to the gate of the pen and began to talk to the dog and he began to settle down and listen to me. Soon he was sitting and licking the back of my hand as I held it against the fence. I opened the gate and walked in and put a lease on him and walked him out into the yard. He was soon sitting on command and walking beside me without pulling, but always looking up at me wanting to please. While I was busy with him the inmates moved the pen to a shaded area of the yard.

The other Pit Bull watched the interaction between me and his buddy and saw the treat he got for being a good boy. When I went to him he sat at the gate and waited for me to open it and walk in. He waited for me to put the leash on him and it was then I noticed the choke collar he had on was pad locked tightly around his neck. With a pair of bolt cutters the lock was cut and the choke collar removed all the while he leaned up against me looking into my eyes.

We walked around the yard before I turned him over to one of the inmates and watched as they bonded together. After the clean up was done and the guys were standing around waiting to go back to the county jail one of them walked over to me and said, ” I learned something here today. You turned that dog’s anger into admiration and wanting to please and you did it with patience and care. It is a lesson for all of us.”

Everybody is benefiting from this program including me.

[mincey]

mrskti wrote:
Richard a friend of mine just lost her little dog and when she got his ashes back, they had done a plaster cast of his paw print, i think that was really cool. The print is a nice idea too.

We had that done too, when we lost Boomer at almost 17 last year. The paw print was then bronzed and put on a plaque. We also have his cremains in a nice wood urn/box with a photo of him on it. Unfortunately, we lost his companion last week at 16, and we are having the same done for Toby.

[Hoops]

Maybe Charlie will teach Suzie manners after all. (or at least to behave when you are gone)

[E_Texan]

How funny. Sounds like Suzie has met her match.

[Dixie_Flyer]

Good morning everyone. Charlie and Suzie wanted me to tell you they have become the best of friends. Suzie is now accepting Charlie as a playmate bringing him her toys so she can tease him with “Can you get it before I do?”

Charlie still amazes me with his manners and gentle ways. He gets along with all of the family in every way. Last night Suzie and I were playing on the couch when Charlie came over to get into the fun. He is so big he just dwarfs Suzie. Anyway he gets on the couch with us pushing Suzie to one side, turns over on his back and wants his belly rubbed. Suzie precedes to annoy Charlie by chewing in his back paws and trying to pull him off the couch. When that doesn’t work she then jumps up in the middle of his stomach and starts mouth to mouth irritation, doing anything to get Charlie’s attention, but Charlie isn’t going for it.

Finally Suzie jumps down and disappears for a bit and come back with a tennis ball in her mouth, one that she had been hiding just for such an occasion. Yep, you got it! Charlie falls for the bait and the chase is on as Suzie runs away from Charlie. Charlie is old and has very long legs so his balance on the hard wood floor isn’t that good, but he does pretty well in keeping up with Suzie. Finally Suzie gets tired and wants to lay down so she goes to her kennel cage with the ball and lays down protecting the ball at any cost. But Charlie is determined so he goes into the crate with Suzie. Now I thought this would be an act of aggression, war without any holds barred. But no! Wait a minute there is laughter going on! Is it Charlie, or is it Suzie? No it was Sue watching from behind as big Charlie and small Suzie are jammed into the small confines of the crate each trying to hold onto the ball. Finally Charlie emerges with the ball, tail wagging looking at me saying, “Okay Dad let’s go play ball.”

[Dixie_Flyer]

nonameperson wrote:
Hello Rich, Sue and the Daniels Gang

I have finally found my username and password for the fourm, and have taken the time to catch up, which was alot of reading. We passed around the info about Old Fella to all the rangers/parkattendants and campers who had come in contact with him over the years, all of whom, fell in love with him. I still want Rich and Sue to adopt me.
I am glad Charlie has joined your family to help ease the pain of the loss of Levi and Old Fella I have also posted the link on my myspace site for others to read.
God Bless you for all that you do.
Welcome Charlie!!!
Nina

Hi Nina, We will be coming your way on the 25th and will be on site #50. Charlie will entertain you I'm sure of it.

[nonameperson]

Hello Rich, Sue and the Daniels Gang

I have finally found my username and password for the fourm, and have taken the time to catch up, which was alot of reading. We passed around the info about Old Fella to all the rangers/parkattendants and campers who had come in contact with him over the years, all of whom, fell in love with him. I still want Rich and Sue to adopt me.
I am glad Charlie has joined your family to help ease the pain of the loss of Levi and Old Fella I have also posted the link on my myspace site for others to read.
God Bless you for all that you do.
Welcome Charlie!!!
Nina

[TrueLarry]

It was hard to read this thread - I had too many tears in my eyes to see the pages. I just started it because it had to do with pets. What a wonderful story and what a happy then sad ending. My wife and I have a seven (or so) year old rescue dog, a purebred Shih Tzu that was used by a breeder and then left at the pound for whatever fate she met. She had horrible teeth and needed surgery for a tumor that was cancerous but we are hopeful that it was localized. We had over $1,000 in her before the end of the first month. She was terrified of us and didn't trust anybody. Now we love her to death in spite of the fact that she can be a challenge sometimes. Dogs are such wonderful pets it is just amazing to me that people can cast them aside with no care whatsoever. My grandmother, who lived on a farm about a quarter mile off a highway, had three dogs that I knew of, all of which were just dumped out of cars by people who didn't want them anymore. It breaks my heart that people can be so heartless and cruel to domesticated animals who love us and depend on us. Bless you Richard for your kindness to Old Fellow and the pox upon the farmer who cussed you out for taking his dog. You did the right thing.

[bonniesoo]

Boy that was really well said Richard. Old Fella changed many lives and I believe many lives to come. We will always have rescues whenever Mika & Suki cross over to the bridge and that is directly because of Old Fella. Before we only looked for pekingese puppies from a reputable breeder now we will look in pekingese rescue. The faithfulness dogs express is just amazing to me. Suki will be sound asleep somewhere and hear me leave the room and immediately get up and come to where I am and lie down to resume her nap. Mika on the other hand.....well Mika would expect me to go get her and carry her to my new room!!! LOL...Have a fun day and give Suzie a scratch on the head and toss the ball once to Charlie for me.

[Dixie_Flyer]

This morning everything is well with the family. Charlie, Suzie, Izzie, Sue and myself are looking forward to having a productive day. I will cut grass and wash the camper while Sue goes to pick blue berries. Suzie is worried about what toy she is going to chase after while Charlie tries to figure out where the tennis balls have been hiding. Izzie is just going to be a cat and do whatever cats do during the day, mostly sleep and allow us to live in his house.

I look around the house and see places where Old Fella should be only to be reminded he has taken his journey to Rainbow Bridge where he awaits our arrival. Charlie has helped us move forward with our lives and I believe Fella would be happy with our choice.

The memorial fund is growing but still has a ways to go before we can start with any plans as to what the memorial will look like. I do hope that we are able to place something in the park that truly expresses our love for this great old dog and what he represents to not only this community but to all of us who have been touched by his life.

Old Fella's courage and strong will to live was exemplified in the life he lived. His great love for his family carried him beyond what most would have endured. I realize now how much pain he was in the last few weeks of his life, but he did not want to leave us and that alone sustained him. We have been left with some beautiful memories of an old black dog that came our way and for a brief moment touched our lives and changed us for the better.

[chemisd]

How awful for Brandy....I hope they catch whoever was responsible....

[Dixie_Flyer]

This was also in today's paper:

$6,000 offered for dog killer
By Diana Royal
dianar@thetruecitizen.com


What started out as a $500 reward
for a dog killer has now
reached $6,000 – and may keep
growing from there.
Old Fella Animal Rescue volunteer
Bruce Storm initiated the
reward with $500 out of his own
pocket for information leading to
the person(s) responsible for the
death of a dog named “Brandy.”
The six-month-old dog was
found dead at dumpsters on Story
Mill Road on the day she was to
be adopted. Old Fella volunteers
say they monitored and fed
Brandy for about 48 hours until
an adoptive family was found.
Brandy’s story has garnered
national attention, as organizations
around the United States are
now chipping in to help find
whoever shot her.
The Humane Society of the
United States contributed
$2,500; $1,500 came from the
Atlanta Humane Society; and the
Georgia SPCA (Society for the
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals)
also added $1,500 to the
pot.
Storm says he anticipates more
donations to increase the reward
and hopes to see it reach $10,000 this week.

[Dixie_Flyer]

Waynesboro True Citizen Newspaper Old Fella obituary.

http://www.thetruecitizen.com/news/2008/0702/pdf/Page_02.pdf


Now that the paper is over a week old I can now put a link to the article so everyone can read it without becoming a subscriber to the paper.