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]

DIXIESMAMA wrote:
Prayers for Kristin.

Richard, I may have missed a post but did you ever find out what caused Suzie to be sick? She is such a mischievous little girl, she reminds me of Dixie when she was a pup, I would hate to think of her becoming sick and lose that spirit.

I pray that you and Sue are safe on the road to the rally.

DIXIESMAMA

Dr. Jim gave Suzie some medicine that is given to horses that have intestinal parasites that cause nausea and vomiting. It is sometimes found in animals that eat cat dung. Anyway when he treated her with it she got well.

Tonight when we went to walk Fella and Levi Fella went down with his leg and has not been able to get up again. If he is not ale to walk by the time we get to Colorado I am taking him to the vets that are on Animal Planet if I can get him in. Please pray for him this is bad timing for him to get down with us being on the road for there is not much we can do until we get to Colorado. I am very concerned about this turn of events.

[DIXIESMAMA]

Prayers for Kristin.

Richard, I may have missed a post but did you ever find out what caused Suzie to be sick? She is such a mischievous little girl, she reminds me of Dixie when she was a pup, I would hate to think of her becoming sick and lose that spirit.

I pray that you and Sue are safe on the road to the rally.

DIXIESMAMA

[bonniesoo]

You have safe travels too Rich....take care

[Dixie_Flyer]

We have stopped for the day in Checotah, Oklahoma at a very nice KOA. Tomorrow we will go to Wakenney, Kansas and stop at the KOA there. Sunday we will be in Colorado Springs. Looking forward to seeing all of you so drive safe and be careful.

This morning just outside Memphis there was a terrible accident on Interstate 40 involving three big trucks and a pickup truck. I don't know the extent of the injuries but it looked really bad. Someone is not going to get their Fed-X packages because they were scattered all over the place.

Okay that's enough for now. Old Fellah is excited to see you so get ready.

[Dashonthedash]

I am leaving this morning to head down to Mueller State Park. See you on Monday.

Gary

[Dixie_Flyer]

We will soon be back on the road. Levi and Old Fella are having a good time exploring all the new areas. I too was undecided about what clothes to bring so I brought shorts hoping for the best. I did however throw in some long johns and a coat with some long pants. See you later.

[Dixie_Flyer]

We arrived in Horn Lake just outside Memphis this evening Mary Ray came out for a visit. We are staying in a new campground Audubon Point RV Park off HWY 51 very close to I-55. The campground is very nice and the folks are friendly and helpful. Nice place to come for an overnight or if you want to stay and explore Memphis. The trees have just been planted so there is no shade but all the campsites have level paved parking pads with paved interior roads. We will stay here again coming back from Colorado.

Levi is such a ham, he wouldn't leave Mary alone and wanted her to just love on him all the time she was here. Old Fella, well what can anyone say about an old fella. All they want to do is lay around and sleep and be called to dinner when it is served. We covered 500 miles today so that wasn't a bad start for the trip. We will be moving out in the morning and hope to make another 500 before the day is done. See you later

[Dandy_Dan]

Talked to Sue this afternoon around 1 They were already through Atlanta hoping to be in Memphis this evening. Good Luck to all attending the OF Western Rally. I am around Cleveland in a campgrounds at this time. Have a safe weekend.

[chemisd]

Hope Kristin is feeling better today....

[kokosfriend]

prayers for Kristen's complete recovery
Barb

[Dashonthedash]

So sorry to hear about Kristin. Hoping for a complete recovery.

[Starfire5]

Richard, just catching up with the post after being away. Had some minor surgery. So sorry that Suzie won't be making the trip with you. I know it must be hard to leave her behind.

The new website looks great. Sorry to hear about Kristin - hope she's OK and recovers quickly.

I read about your building. My husband's offer still stands if you need any help/advice for the new building. He is in the middle of raising several million dollars right now for 3 different organizations for new buildings, so it's something that he knows VERY well. Do you still have our phone number?

Have a wonderful trip to Colorado. I really wish we could have gone, but we sadly haven't bought an RV yet. 😞 The timing would have been perfect, as our daughter in Denver wanted us to babysit her animals this week - she's returning on the 4th, so we could have headed down for the rally. Ugh! 😞 Looking forward to seeing the pictures!

[Dixie_Flyer]

The young lady Kristin Ruggiero who designed our new website was traveling from Florida yesterday to join us in a meeting here in Waynesbor when she was involved in an accident. She suffered multiple broken bones and is in a hospital. Please pray for her to recover completely.

Dixie Flyer

[Dixie_Flyer]

Soon Old Fella was at ease with the strange looking dog and realized he was sent by the Ancestors to help guide him through the rest of his journey and bring him to his forever home that he had longed for. As Old Fella listened he learned that soon someone was coming to take him away from the campground and he would live in a home with humans that he would learn to love with all of his heart. Then he learned that in his name many would be saved and that his legacy would live on for generations to come. “By why me?” asked Fella. Because you are worthy. Being humble is not always easy but you my friend have proven that inside you is a soul that has learned what the Ancestors have taught. Those who have learn to be humble become the Chosen and you have been chosen to follow in the ways of the Great teacher.

As Fella remembered that night and the length of the days he waited for the one who would deliver him he also remembered those whom he thought might be the Deliverer and almost got into trouble several times. Once he ventured into a campsite he just knew was the Deliverer and had rocks thrown at him. Once there were these ladies and one man that were so afraid of him they refused to come out of their camper and complained to the gate keeper about a mangy old dog terrorizing the campground. Then came the day that the Deliverer came to the campground, Fella wasn’t sure about this one, he already had a dog and he didn’t look at all like the person he had in mind. But something was drawing him to this old man that he couldn’t explain and the woman was beyond his expectation. She was beautiful and seemed to be not afraid of Fella, even offering him food and water. After his visit with the humans he went back to his hiding place in the woods and that night the strange light appeared again.

“Fella” a voice called to him. “You have waited a long time for this moment to come and now is the time for your destiny to be fulfilled. In a few days the man you met today will come back for you, to take you and give you a new home and a new way of life. Your days of wandering are over. In him you will find the kindness and love you have always longed for but in return you must give to him all that you are, every fiber of your being so that he can be all that he can be to you. In him you will find the goodness of life and he will honor you and give you peace on every side. So honor him as he honors you and you will live a good life never wanting for anything. Go now and find the purpose for which you were born and live in peace.”

Fella eyes were filled with tears as he thought of being delivered from the tormenting biting flies, ticks and fleas, living in a home with humans as a beloved pet. It was more than he could fathom. He knew the great Ancestors never lied about anything, they couldn’t because of the sacred oath they had taken, so Fella knew his life was about to change for the good.

Continued

[coop7243]

What a fantastic job on the website. It really looks terrific.
It's hard to believe that it is time for the Western OF Rally. Safe travels to everyone. It should be a wonderful time. We'll all be anxious to see and hear all about it.