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]

kokosfriend wrote:
I can only get page one to come up.??? It comes up fine, but on thumbnail it is the only page downloaded into my adobe - which is a current version.

When you get page one, look at the very top of the page and you will see Page 1, type in 2 and click.

[CindyNRoger]

Wonderful articles Richard! Thank you for sharing. Looks like everything is running smoothly. I will be seeing Anna this weekend, as Roger and I are hosting a rally in one of our Ohio state parks. We are having a fish fry (fresh Lake Erie perch). Rumor has it I should keep the fish, as well as my camera and remote, away from Anna. :B Take care and give my best to Sue.

[kokosfriend]

I can only get page one to come up.??? It comes up fine, but on thumbnail it is the only page downloaded into my adobe - which is a current version.

[campingshadow]

Not sure what is wrong, but every time I try to read one of these articles my computer freezes up. I have tried in Firefox and Explorer several times and each time it locks up. I am using a brand new computer with Vista and I have the latest version of Adobe Reader. It appears to be an Adobe issue. I am sure they are great articles......just wish I could read them

[Dixie_Flyer]

Articles in the True Citizen Newspaper About Old Fella. Enjoy reading them.

[Dixie_Flyer]

Burke County Commissioners May Help Old Fella

Go to page 2

[Dixie_Flyer]

Good News For Friends of Old Fella

Go to page 4

[joelbaker]

Richard, that is such great news and a fantastic story. Congratulations on all your success and especially for the good you've done for rescue anmals everywhere!

[Dixie_Flyer]

Now you can read it at no charge

Old Fella Gets Place to grow

Go to page 2

[Dixie_Flyer]

campingshadow wrote:
Richard, I am sure that all of your rescues feel the same as Heidi.....so grateful for a loving home and some TLC. What a difference your organization is making! What a wonderful legacy you will be leaving the animals of Burke County. For years and years after we are all gone from this earth, your vision will shine on. Not many can say that they have made such a profound difference in the lives of others. You are one very special man!

Thank you for your kind words. The legacy that the Old Fella Burke County Animal Rescue is building is due to the dedication of the volunteers that have given so much. When I think of all the hours and money they have given of themselves I sit in awe in all they have accomplished. Without them we would not be where we are today. Bruce Storm was the one who researched the tax records and found Mr. Rowland who gave us the three acres of land. He made it easy for me to call Mr. Rowland and ask that he donate the land to the rescue effort. In the newspaper report they said it was me who did the research and called Mr. Rowland. The group makes it so easy for me as President to get the attention of the press and news media and so often they get left out as the wrong person is focused on.

Yes it is true that it was and still is my vision for the animals of Burke County to have a shelter, a place of grace where they can come and be given a second chance at life. We all desire a second chance to do something significant with our lives, to make a difference in helping others achieve greatness where we perhaps have failed. This is my second chance to help return to God's creatures some of the love and help I have received from my maker and from others who have loved me along the way. Now that I am approaching the golden years of my life let me return the blessings I have received to others who like me need a helping hand. Think of the life changing events that are happeing because of one old black dog and the compassion that was poured out for him and continues to flow and change people's lives.

People are responding to the love that Old Fella has generated and their lives will never be the same as the animals leave their foot prints in their hearts whose stories have been told on this thread. You too are an amazing people that I have come to love and admire for your generosity. This has become everyone's vision who comes to this thread to read everyday. So as long as this thread lives and the animals whose lives are brought here for you to read about and to cheer on until all have found homes, the vision lives on. You too are very special. Thank you for caring, you have made my day a little brighter. God bless each and everyone of you.

[Mickey_T]

ladymc53 wrote:
I am reading everything as fast as I can - it's wonderful to see how God is moving today through all of you.

I have a dilemma - we have a very old stray dog that came to us about 8 yrs. ago,during a severe ice storm...he just wandered up, freezing, sweet and wagging his tail. I couldn't stand to see him in such bad condition, so of course he became ours immediately. He had been recently blinded in 1 eye, developed arthritis in his hips, and because he couldn't see very well, while on a walk with DH down a country road, he was hit by a truck, but it was minor. He has a torn ear...he's a mess, but he's my mess and we have cared for him as best we can. After getting hit he disappeared for quite a while and when he returned he had the torn ear so it could not be sewn up - it wasn't life threatening, just unattractive. Everytime we drive up to the house he greets us with a leaf, stick or whatever in his mouth - my dad said it's his peace offering. We named him Cy (not for cyclops as some have suggested) - it's a name from a Bing Crosby/Bob Hope movie where they greet each other with " Hi Cy!" and "Hi, Hy"...I always thought it was cute...anyway...the problem:

Cy is the sweetest dog we've ever owned and deserves a great life. We are in the middle of remodeling a large home and in order to sell it and go full time we must do some plantings outside. Cy is a total outside dog and lays around all the time - in my flower bed, which is now a huge hole. We will be full timing and cannot take him with us on the road. We will be in a FW and he's too large. I've tried to find him a good home by advertising in the paper, got some calls, but no looks. I would like to place him with a rescue place, but all the rescue's that I know of here in Arkansas are for full bred dogs and he's a mutt. A great mutt, but a mutt. The local animal shelter (not the pound) will take him for a fee, which is not a problem, but the problem is, no one will adopt him and he will live his life out in a cage, which I cannot stand the thought of.

What to do? Help me please!

Thanks in part to Old Fella, I somehow became involved in helping rescues in Arkansas. I volunteer with Paws and Claws in your hometown, Hot Springs, and have fostered and placed 16 dogs (puppy mill "rejects" scheduled to be pts) since last November. PAC is part of a network of rescues that work to place dogs from our area in great homes in the New England area. Seems odd to think that we're putting dogs down every day here, while there are waiting lists for mixed breeds in other parts of the country.

Please contact me and I will work on listing Cy on our Petfinders site. Additionally, if I can get more detailed information on Cy (breeds, age, weight, temperament, personality, health, spayed/neutered) along with a photo, I will try to include him in the list of adoptable dogs that we share with our network of rescues.

Mickey

[W7SFO]

Dernhelm wrote:
And then there are Golden Retrievers. They have a built in maturity switch that goes off on their 5th Birthday. Owners have been known to go gray and need serious dental work in the first 5 years of their lives. But oh, they are SUCH wonderful dogs!

I was lucky DJ was a heathen until he was 2, then the last year or so he was alive he decided minding was no longer his cup of tea!

Misty Jo has been a laid back girl almost since day one. Very little troubles with her. But then again Beth picked her out. If I had picked it would have been a heathen dog! :B

[Starfire5]

Dernhelm wrote:
And then there are Golden Retrievers. They have a built in maturity switch that goes off on their 5th Birthday. Owners have been known to go gray and need serious dental work in the first 5 years of their lives. But oh, they are SUCH wonderful dogs!

Boy, you've got THAT right! We have a 3-1/2 year old golden grandpuppy who spends more time at our house than with her mom. She still chews on shoes, socks, etc. and still acts just like a 6 month old puppy. I don't think she'll EVER grow up! And I'm TOO OLD for this stuff! :B

[Hoops]

Another Bichon owner told me once (but only after we had gotten her) that Bichon's outgrow puppyhood at about 11. So we are in for a really turbulent ride.

[Dernhelm]

And then there are Golden Retrievers. They have a built in maturity switch that goes off on their 5th Birthday. Owners have been known to go gray and need serious dental work in the first 5 years of their lives. But oh, they are SUCH wonderful dogs!