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

[Dandy_Dan]

Richard, Have a safe trip to NC and then the Outer Banks. Just tell Suzie that her sister just lays down and sleeps in the truck with no medication at all. We give Anna a treat just before we are leaving and she knows that it is time to go and all is well with the world. don't forget to take progress pictures of the land when you have time. Give all a hug for us.

[Code2High]

Okay, lets not get carried away here... first off, all antibiotics are not the same, and the problems that will upset a dog's system are varied and frequently require more specialized medications. Randomly giving out antibiotics is never a good idea, and by random, I mean treating a problem that you don't know the cause of with a drug you happen to have in the house and have no idea if it is applicable to the problem.

Metamucil can be a way to "bulk up" the stool, but if this is something like giardia, it isn't going to get it, and will only add ammunition. If it isn't, and is just something that didn't agree, then fasting is a good way to let the system empty out and calm down. Only trouble is, if there's nothing left in the system, guess what? You'll get no stool samples! Can be an issue, but some vets (and my favorite ones) will just do a quick swab and slap it on a slide and look at it. The really good ones will show you the little critters on the slide, as they count out the pills and put them in the bottle...

In any case, I'd advise calling the vet and getting an appointment. You can always cancel it if you feed her tomorrow and all seems well, but Saturday appointments tend to go fast and if you don't get it, you might have to wait all weekend and that is just really not going to be so fun, is it?

[maltese-lover2]

Jana,

I just went through that with one of mine. Do you have any antibiotics and metmucil in the house. Antibiotics was twice a day for 5 days and the stomach coating pill (can't remember the name) was 3x a day but the vet said I could use the Metamucil as a stomach coating also. It cleared up in one day. Hopefully you can get it taken care of soon because oh my, what a mess. For us it was critical because we're taking all of them RV'ing this weekend. Good luck.

[Dixie_Flyer]

chemisd wrote:
Good Morning all.....beautiful weather and wish I was camping. Instead, I'm cleaning carpet again as it appears one of mine is having a diarrhea attack. Not sure of the cause. Did a google search so have taken her food for today and may have to keep her in the garage. I hate that as she loves to lay on the couch during the day and look out the window. Plus, that would leave Sammi alone inside and she would be a basket case. Oh, well, maybe I will leave her in the house, skip lunch and come home to check on her. It was too dark this a.m. to get a stool sample. Maybe I can get one before going to work.
Back to Old Fella....things are certainly sounding great! Everything is falling into place. We are proud of you!

Every time Levi has an accident it has been either tape worm or some other kind of worms in his intestines. The most memorable event with Levi was on our trip to Yellowstone in 2003. Levi got sick in Wyoming and by the time we got to Jackson Hole on a Monday we were looking for a vet. We found this large animal hospital that had several doctors but they were all busy and we couldn't get Levi in until the next day. We left Jackson Hole and went on to West Yellowstone Montana where we were able to find a vet but he wouldn't be in until Wednesday. So we went on to the KOA in West Yellowstone and waited until Wednesday. What happened between Monday and Wednesday I wouldn't wish on anyone. The diagnoses was tape worm and with the medicine Levi was all better the next day. The camper, well it took several cleanings to get that right.

[chemisd]

Good Morning all.....beautiful weather and wish I was camping. Instead, I'm cleaning carpet again as it appears one of mine is having a diarrhea attack. Not sure of the cause. Did a google search so have taken her food for today and may have to keep her in the garage. I hate that as she loves to lay on the couch during the day and look out the window. Plus, that would leave Sammi alone inside and she would be a basket case. Oh, well, maybe I will leave her in the house, skip lunch and come home to check on her. It was too dark this a.m. to get a stool sample. Maybe I can get one before going to work.
Back to Old Fella....things are certainly sounding great! Everything is falling into place. We are proud of you!

[Dixie_Flyer]

bonniesoo wrote:
Pictures...Richard....pictures

I have the cameras and lots of film.

[bonniesoo]

Pictures...Richard....pictures

[Dixie_Flyer]

Friday Sue and I along with the animals {Fella, Levi, and Suzie} will be leaving for a trip to North Carolina. Our first stop will be at New Bern to visit a first cousin in her new home. She just retired and is enjoying the good life. We will be staying at the KOA in New Bern leaving on Sunday going to the Outer Banks. This will be Suzie's first real trip with us. I hope she does well with the Dramamine everyday we are traveling. I want to get her reaction to the ocean and the waves. She can be so spooky at times she may freak out.

I was thinking today that Old Fella really has been frisky lately especially with Suzie. He more playful than I have ever seen him and wanting more attention. He will be laying on the floor in the family room and break out with that grunting noise of his and then start barking and slapping his front paw on the floor in a gesture of "Let's play." That old dog has really changed our lives since he has come to live with us. I wonder if angels come with four legs and a fur coat?

In the past few days I have come to realize that the Old Fella dream is coming true. We have been looking at portable buildings to start off with for the spay neuter clinic and find that there are many used ones to be had in the adjoining counties. The problem is moving them is going to be costly. Anyway, the God that has gotten us this far will see us to the end. Sue and I went to the property tonight to see the work being done, what a wonderful sight to see.

[campingshadow]

Somehow in the midst of our pain at losing our beloved animals, it is a comfort to know that there are so many wonderful pets waiting at the bridge to welcome them and play with them while they wait for us to join them. I know my own Shadow, Velvet, Magic, Smokey, Trixie, Sheba and Drifter are there to greet Roscoe. He will be in a better place than he was here...he will be surrounded by love and happiness.

You would think by now, after all these pages that I would know I should never read this thread without tissues near by. It never ceases to amaze me at the love and devotion our pets give to us and we give in return. Bless Roscoe - he will now find unconditional love.

[chemisd]

Check in with Maicey and Maddey for me, will you Roscoe? Still miss them terribly. And while you are at it, give a hug to Pepper, my dog growing up. She was just the best.
ok, now mama is in tears....
Great news about the Center Richard!
I think I missed something about the OFBCAR membership. We have been encouraged not to look at any websites not directly school related, so it has been hit or miss lately. Let us know about that if possible.
jana

[sisodals]

Roscoe,

Although you time here was shortened, you will be missed, and spend some time with Ginger, Ellen, Valley and Bosser they will be glad to play with ou and we miss them everyday.

[Dandy_Dan]

Roscoe, While you are at the Rainbow Bridge, please give a lick to Beau and tell him we still think a lot about him. May you have peace.

[bonniesoo]

Bless your sweet heart Roscoe....have fun at the Bridge and say Hi to Bonniesoo, Bing & Bootie for us...we miss them.

[fulltimegrams22]

Buddy is there with Roscoe at the Rainbow Bridge, I am sure they have become great fiends already.

Fulltimegrams22

[butterfly_girl]

Roscoe




My friend