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

[Camper_Carl]

Richard,
That is just awesome news. Don't know how you do but just keep on keeping on. Great play with the computer show. That had to get at some heart strings.

Carl

[coop7243]

It is such a warm, wonderful group of true animal lovers on this forum. Just reading the posts turns a bad day into a good one. I love to read about the rescues, the family pets and all the good deeds. I feel a bond between all of us and hope it continues well into the future. Thanks for bringing us all together Richard.

[Dixie_Flyer]

Thank you Carl for sharing your story with us. It is acts of kindness that have made this thread what t is today.

Tonight's meeting was a huge success! We had 52 people there and we picked up 12 new members. This morning we received a check from Wal Mart for $1,250 and tonight our proposal for Burke County was deemed a great plan for the future and now comes the planning stages for our organization and the Burke County Commissioners along with the City Council in acquiring an existing building or building a new one.

The next step is to meet with both governments in a called business meeting with everyone present to get an approval from Council to proceed to the next level. At least this is a start and I feel positive about all of it. What a great day for the Old Fella Burke County Animal Rescue. We can feel proud of what has been accomplished and the excitment the future holds for rescues in Burke County.

Tonight I used a projector to show the Open Roads Forum and the Old Fella Thread from the computer. When folks there saw the posts and the 158,000 views they realized Waynesboro, Burke County Georgia was being watched by the nation. What an awesome thing to realize that a nation is looking at you and watching to see your compassion or the lack of it. This thread is making a difference for those animals who have not had a voice in Burke County until now. Thank you Lord for all of your blessings.

[Grillmeister]

Thank You, Carl!
Thank You, Richard!
Thank You EVERYONE who loves animals and who posts on this thread. It is the first spot I check every morning and every evening. And sometimes in between, too. It's so amazing that there is so much love, hope and compassion here!

Ditto!!

Just goes to show - chipping is a good thing!

Yes it is…………

[minkhill]

Thanks Carl (and daughter) you gave me the warm fuzzies!
Karen

[mincey]

Camper Carl wrote:

We were lucky, he had a chip and we found out where he lived and Amy and I took him home.

Just goes to show - chipping is a good thing!

[GizmosMom]

Thank You, Carl!
Thank You, Richard!
Thank You EVERYONE who loves animals and who posts on this thread. It is the first spot I check every morning and every evening. And sometimes in between, too. It's so amazing that there is so much love, hope and compassion here!

[mrskti]

and how nice to see greatful people too, not just to take their pet and run....it's nice to see this kind of stuff.

[Ron___Shirley]

Camper Carl what a wonderful thing you and your daughter did. I cannot even imagine how thankful that family was. It goes back to the Old Fella Story. How many others saw that dog in the two days it was missing and just looked the other way instead of taking the time to help poor little Sammy.
I knew it before but it just reinforces what a kind person you are.
Shirley

[Uppercrust]

That is a great story, shows how much that family loved their dog.

[Camper_Carl]

Hi There,
A little update on my puppy rescue story. The puppy owners got my address from my service truck. That is what we took the puppy in yesterday when we took him home. Anyway, they wanted to give us money for saving there little Sammy, I told them no need that I did this out of the kindness of my heart. I guess that wasn't a good enough answer. So I said if you want to you can give a donation to our rescue center. I just got a call from Lisa and she said that they came up to the rescue center with 10 50lb bags of rice and a check for $500.00. See it is worth doing something nice. Not that I was looking forward for a payback but this one I said yes to.

Carl

[mrskti]

oh my god, how amazing he got that far?!?!?! Wow....I'll bet he's glad to be home!!! Good Job!

[CindyNRoger]

WAY TO GO CARL! I got goose bumps ... again. 🙂

[Camper_Carl]

HI Everyone,
I have a good news story. I found a puppy yesterday. He was just walking down the street over by my shop. My daughter Amy was able to go out and when she called to him he came to her. My shop is on a really busy street and he was in and out of being in the street. I was worried about him getting hit by a passing car. Anyway, we brought him into the shop and got him fed and watered. I called our rescue center and Lisa came out to the shop and she brought her scanner. We were lucky, he had a chip and we found out where he lived and Amy and I took him home. There were tears of joy when we pull up to the house. I guess the Gardiner left the gate open and when they put the puppy outside, out the gate he went. He was gone for 2 days and made it about 10 miles from his home. Anyway, I felt good. It was a real pick me up.

Thanks for reading,

Carl

[MrsKottfam6wi]

I am finally on page 230 of the 500+ pages of this story. A reminder of what's going on on the page I'm on, The magazine just came out and everyone is posting their reactions. See you at the end.