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

[Grillmeister]

Hmmmmmmm, with pics and memories like those there is nothing more to say.

[Dixie_Flyer]

All the fur kids with Sue

[Dixie_Flyer]

Sue, Levi and Fella on a camping trip in April of this year.

[mistressofdistr]

Gary, you said that so well.

[Dashonthedash]

Dixie Flyer wrote:
I think Izzie has missed Levi more than any of us. He is so restless and going into places he normally doesn't go. During the day when Fella is with us in the family room he has taken to sleeping in Levi's bed in the bedroom. Then at night Fella will go in and sleep on Levi's bed. Maybe some of Levi's obedient nature will rub off on Izzie if he sleeps there long enough.

Considering how Levi brought Izzie home, I wonder whether there might have been a bit of imprinting there.

It's odd, though. I have been on several pet-related e-lists and forums in the past 8 years or so, and have read a lot of posted notices of beloved furkids going to the Bridge, and I have grieved for every one, but, aside from my own dogs, I don't believe that I have been affected as much by a pet passing as I have by Levi. Maybe it's how you have described him these past 2 years, or maybe it's because I have met him myself and seen just how gentle a soul he was, but we're all going to miss him. If grief shared is grief halved, just think how much lesser will be your share.

[sisodals]

I have a little egg here at home on the mantel with the four cannisters of ours who have gone and are waiting at the Rainbow Bridge. it says :

" If tears could build a stairway,
and memories a lane,
I'd walk right up to Heaven
and bring you home again."

It helps me when I think about all the good times and the fact that I believe that someday we will be together with our beloved friends again forever.

[chrisnpat]

TennesseeT wrote:

God bless you for the wonderful man you are in loving these animals and gently helping the rest of us to remember they need our help. I am going to go hug my dog now.

This statement says a lot and Im sure there is a lot of people on this forum that feel the same way.

[TennesseeT]

Hope I can see through tears to type this. I have kept my heart warmed by coming to this thead to keep up on the story of Old Fella and his family. I haven't read here in a while though, and today I was shocked and saddened to read of the loss of Levi. My thoughts and prayers are with you and the others suffering losses mentioned on this thread.
If only tears and love could bring them back.

God bless you for the wonderful man you are in loving these animals and gently helping the rest of us to remember they need our help. I am going to go hug my dog now.

[Dixie_Flyer]

pasco1215 wrote:
Richard and Sue,
So sorry to hear about Levi. It is a sad time for your family. Just know that all of us on the forum care about you. We met you, Sue and the FurKids about a year ago in the Augusta, GA area during a camping weekend. Hard to find the right words to say. Remember that you made the right decision. You have made a difference for many strays, and I don't mean just animals.

Pasco family along with Sue, Old Fella, Levi and Richard.

[Dixie_Flyer]

Dandy Dan wrote:
Richard, I feel your pain and am glad the healing process can begin. Hope Sue is feeling better also. Wow 36 in the deep south and it is 63 here right now but over cast. What a difference. Bet you are glad to have the genny for Camp Dixie. Let me know how it works for you. I have ours almost winterized.

You will have to also pass along how you decided to name Izzy-cute story. You should be finding something in today's mail if it is on time. Have a good rest of the week.

In the beginning we didn't know if it was a he or she so we called it "Is He?" That soon went to "Izzie" and never changed. Izzie is such a beautiful cat with that silky black coat of hair. His hair is so slick you cannot hold him without him sliding right through your hands. I think Izzie has missed Levi more than any of us. He is so restless and going into places he normally doesn't go. During the day when Fella is with us in the family room he has taken to sleeping in Levi's bed in the bedroom. Then at night Fella will go in and sleep on Levi's bed. Maybe some of Levi's obedient nature will rub off on Izzie if he sleeps there long enough.

[pasco1215]

Richard and Sue,
So sorry to hear about Levi. It is a sad time for your family. Just know that all of us on the forum care about you. We met you, Sue and the FurKids about a year ago in the Augusta, GA area during a camping weekend. Hard to find the right words to say. Remember that you made the right decision. You have made a difference for many strays, and I don't mean just animals.

[Dandy_Dan]

Richard, I feel your pain and am glad the healing process can begin. Hope Sue is feeleing better also. Wow 36 in the deep south and it is 63 here right now but over cast. What a difference. Bet you are glad to have the genny for Camp Dixie. Let me know how it works for you. I have ours almost winterized.

You will have to also pass along how you decided to name Izzy-cute story. You should be finding something in today's mail if it is on time. Have a good rest of the week.

[Dixie_Flyer]

With Levi dripping blood none stop it was time to bring it to an end. Dr. Jim said the next thing that would happen would be his urine track would be closed by the swelling prostate and he felt that would be in just two or three days.

I feel sure the right decision was made as prolonging it would only have made things worse for Levi. He lived a good life and was such a joy to have around. Memories of him will be good ones, I just wish he had lived a little longer. I feel he passed before his time.

[sukerpooch]

I understand the grief with everything happening so fast. Suki gets an annual wellness test as we discovered a platlet problem with her from that test at 2. Since that time, I am an advocate of annual wellness testing. My old kitty Norm never had one as he was a healthy boy all his life. One day I finally decided to bring him in to have one done as he looked like he had lost a little weight. Still acting fine however. That was a Saturday. I came home from work on Monday and he was walking like he was drunk, not eating or drinking. Called the vet right away and she stayed there (they just closed) so we could bring him in. She gave me the news of kidney failure from the tests that were done Saturday but she gave him something to get him through the night and wanted him back the next day for some testing. Monday night, I kept finding him downstairs behind the couch (he never went downstairs because Suki would chase him but Monday night, she let him be) I would bring him back upstairs. In my mind I knew he was trying to find somewhere to go be by himself and pass but I would not accept that. He finally gave in and laid on my chest as I pet him and held him while crying. At that moment was when he began to purr and kissed me. I knew then what would be happening at the vet as my precious boy had just said goodbye. He had an xray on Tuesday that also confirmed a large tumor. The decision was made that this was going to be it. I knew it in the morning before I brought him in so I decided right there. Vet was great. I was probably in her office for 3 hours total. She actually went to another exam room because she let me have her office to spend time with him while I waited for DH. I called him to ask him if he wanted to say goodbye since he only works a couple miles from the vet. Sorry this was so long but I went from Saturday feeling fine to Monday completely deteriorated. I just know how it feels as if everything is happening so fast and you look back wondering if you made the right decision. I know I did though it didn't feel like it at the time. There were shots and drugs I could have tried and maybe gotten a couple more months at best with him. But my Norm was a very snobby regal cat and I wanted to end it with a little dignity for him. Just know that each day will get a little easier.

[Dixie_Flyer]

This morning it was 36 degrees here in the deep south. Suzie and Old Fella are outside after breakfast romping in the back yard. I saw Fella galloping across the yard trying to act like a young dog once again while Suzie had something in her mouth. What I found was Suzie had caught a small bird and had injured it. As I get older I don't like seeing things like this, all life is precious. I scolded her good so we'll see if she does it again.

I hope everyone is doing well and looking forward to a great week. Sue and I will be sticking close to home until Thanksgiving then we plan a trip to Camp Dixie to spend Thanksgiving with the Greenville crowd. We will be dry camping and that will be a first for us. I am carrying twenty gallons of water along with the forty gallons in the camper. Is there such a thing as a dry shower? We now have a generator so we will have electricity to keep warm and watch TV. Of course microwave dinners will be on the menu. We will leave on Wednesday and come home on Sunday.

Things here are a little better this morning and I am sure it will get better as time goes on. I am now more concerned about Old Fella's health and well being as I don't want to lose him any time soon. We were so blind sided by Levi's illness and the suddenness with which it appeared, it was like a whirl wind of events that just swept you away.

Old Fella will have blood work done on a regular basis along with Suzie so that we won't be caught so unaware again. Fella slept on Levi's bed again last night as if he is clinging on to Levi's memory or he finds comfort being close to something that belonged to Levi and has his scent on it.

Sue has been sick for the last few days with a very bad cold. This morning she feels better. Wednesday I go back to the eye doctor to find out what he plans to do if anything. The oil is still in the eye and at some point will need to come out. For the past month I have noticed that some vision has come back. It is such a gradual thing you don't notice it until one morning you wake up and realize you have more vision than before.

Once again thanks for all of the words of comfort and concern. This has been a very hard time, but your love and encouragement is helping us through this ordeal. Levi will be missed but his spirit lives on in our hearts and memories so each day we can visit as much as we like. I think I will go visit with Levi for a while and send up another prayer then get ready to face another day.