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

[dogdiva]

Have you considered accupuncture for OF...... It definitely could help his mobility
Ck to see if there are any vets in your area that do it

[Buz2b]

I'm sorry, it's a problem I have. I can never leave well enough alone. Just had to see more detail of OF's dear face. I hope this comes out a bit better.

[Dixie_Flyer]

Yep, Old Fella says camping sure is tough. Hey Pa, bring me some treats while you're up okay!!

[ChucknLouise]

My grandfather was a pastor and he always said you could tell the character of a person by how animals and children reacted to you. You proved him right~~~
Like CA poppy said - we all kind of knew what kind of person you were....thanks for sharing some of your life with us.

Louise
Now in Soledad Canyon, CA (TTN)

[chemisd]

Like CA poppy said - we all kind of knew what kind of person you were....thanks for sharing some of your life with us.
jana

[CockerDodger]

Amen, thanks Richard, look forward to meeting you in person as well as your family. Knew much of the bolt of cloth you were cut from by your earlier posts. Happy the wedding went well, and the weather held. I always had a special place in my heart for the pastor that tied our knot. He was retired and was filling in while we searched for a pastor to call. Our Hope is to see him again.

When you get a chance, never get tired of seeing your furkids and would like to see more of them interacting. I love it when our girls play, or groom one another, and with a cat, (Izzy woun't get affended calling him a cat I hope) in the mix it would be even more fun. We had a cat and it did great with our dogs. They would chase one another around the yard, but always in good humor. She was an Izzy for awhile 'till the vet made the call. Never been good at sexing cats or birds. She is still alive, gave her to Linda's cousin and now she another dog to play with.

Anyway, glad to hear you and Ol'Fella are on the mend, time is gettin close, stay well!

Washed my trailer today in preparation for a June 7th departure. Still have a groomer and vet appointment and of course some last minute groceries. The preparation list is getting shorter. We are making 5 stops at friends and family along the way, not counting trailer parks.

And to all that are going to Branson, See you soon!
Chuck

[CA_POPPY]

Wow, Rich, we didn't know all that but somehow, your basic kindness and loving spirit came through this message board. Therefore, there has been the amazing response to Old Fella and your story. Thanks for sharing more than you had to. You are indeed a blessed man.

[MuleBrand]

Thanks for sharing a part of your life story! Explains why Old Fella knew who his new family should be!:B

[Dixie_Flyer]

needsomefun wrote:
ya'll are a little slow . . . . Rich has got to be a semi-retired Preacher!! 🙂

I am a Southern Baptist Preacher since 1975. I started my own life insurance agency when I realized I couldn't make a living and send the kids to college preaching in small Baptist churches with congregations of 50-60 people. Since the average stay for a Baptist preacher is somewhere around two years one moves around a lot so I decided to control that element of the ministry by becoming bi-vocational so I could have an established home for my family rather than moving around from place to place.

My ministries have all been in the area that I live so that I could maintain a home place and a work place. It has worked well for me and my family allowing my children to grow up in the same home and attend the same school. In 2003 I retired to become a supply pastor for churches without pastors until they could find one thus allowing Sue and I to spend more time with our children and grandchildren. We all have campers and try to meet once a month at a campground for the weekend. There is the annual trip in October to the mountains where we all get together for a wonderful fall weekend.

Sometime during the summer we will get together for a white water rafting trip in the North Georgia or North Caroline mountains and perhaps do some trout fishing in the spring. I have always tried to be there for my children and they have always tried to be there for Sue and I.

In my younger days I drifted from building race cars for the dirt track circuit and modified's to drag racing in the South East National Hot Rod Association. My father owned a car dealership so it was easy for my to fall into something like that. I even spent a little time in Nashville, TN with GRT Records.

The name Dixie Flyer came from my teens when we formed a car club in Augusta, Georgia called "Dixie Flyers". In those day I had a 1956 Ford with a 430 cubic inch Lincoln engine, bored and stroked with two Holley four barrel Carbs, a Lincoln Zypher transmission and a 4/11 rear end. It was painted candy apple red, lowered and chopped and had two of the loudest exhaust you ever heard.

Then I settled down and became a respectable family man with tendencies every once in a while to step a little too hard on the gas pedal and encourage a youngster not to be afraid to get his hands greasy or dirt under the fingernails. At 65 years old I have become very mellow and wondered how did I survive my youth? But God had a plan for me and he watched over me all of those years that I was running the streets.

Old Fella became a part of my youth experience and trials in mid-life. I took one look at those eyes and that tired run down body and said to myself "But by the grace of God that could be me". Someone saved me from a life of darkness and separation and gave me a place in life where I could grow and blossom into a person of value and purpose. If someone would do that for me, then I could do that for someone or something else. Old Fella became my mission and purpose at this time in my life. I have always been an easy touch. You could always get the last dollar I had if you asked me for it.

Now you have most of the story. You can read the rest of it in the book.

[needsomefun]

ya'll are a little slow . . . . Rich has got to be a semi-retired Preacher!! 🙂

[chemisd]

Richard, you have become a type of puzzle of sorts.....I started out getting to "know" you through the pet forum, then of course OF came along, and I realized that Dixie Flyer was male - I think I assumed female. We find out what perseverance you have with your multiple trips to try and get OF. Then we hear of eye surgery, recently heard you were a diabetic, and since you did a marriage ceremony, you must be a minister of sorts? yes? I think part of this forum's "fun" is getting to "know" the folks who always respond. Makes you wonder what folks think of yourself!
Glad you had a great day. We finally had sun in OH, but rains are back tonight. At least I finally got the Mother's day flats of flowers planted!
As for OF's weight....yes, it needs to go down. We had a dog, that we KNOW was predisposed for weight. We had her on Science Diet for a year and she really never changed shape. If OF is leaving food in the dish, then maybe that is his way of saying he is full? It is so hard to tell, and I love to indulge my girls. I guess I am feeling a little melancholy, missing my "old" girls. The yard just isn't the same without them laying in the sun. Very different having to tie up the young 'uns! (dogs, not boys, but now as I think of it....j/k!!)
Enjoy your evening.......

[Dixie_Flyer]

Sarah and Stuart had a great wedding today with a nice breeze blowing to keep the temp down. It was great to see old friends who I hadn't seen in years.

Old Fella was excited to see me come home with his barking and wagging tail. He was so excited I thought his tail was going to fall off it was wagging so hard. Old Fella say he is ready for the rally and he is improving everyday. Now I have to go and finish the Sunday School lesson for tomorrow so I bid you farewell until tomorrow.

[Dixie_Flyer]

DIXIESMAMA wrote:
Richard, also remember to take a little of his daily ration of kibble and feed it to him by hand as his treat. You could put a tiny bit of peanut butter on the kibble and that will make it a real treat! That way he will avoid extra calories. I did this with my old Dobbie. At night, I would put a few bits of kibble in her bowl and top with a little skimmed milk. She really looked forward to her 'bowl of cereal'.

DIXIESMAMA

That is a good idea. Years ago I used to feed one of our dogs with milk in his food and he loved it. Skim milk shouldn't have many calories in it and maybe I could substitute the dry food for the can food. The can food has become a bore to him and he isn't eating it at one sitting. If it sits for a while it becomes hard as a brick so I can imagine what it must taste like.

Today has started off well with everybody up and moving around. I have a wedding ceromony to do this afternoon outside, hope it doesn't rain. I am getting old. The groom is the son of one of my best friends from high school. We grew up together as neighbors and our friendship has continued down through the years. When his father and mother past away I did the funeral service for each of them and when his aunt died it was like losing one of my close relations.

I have made many acquaintances throughout life and I have many friends, but I have discovered you will have very few best friends. By now I have buried all but two; left are Claude my high school friend and Sue, who is not only my best friend but also my wife.

Well I have to go and make a start on the day so you have a great day and I will talk with you later.

[DIXIESMAMA]

Richard, also remember to take a little of his daily ration of kibble and feed it to him by hand as his treat. You could put a tiny bit of peanut butter on the kibble and that will make it a real treat! That way he will avoid extra calories. I did this with my old Dobbie. At night, I would put a few bits of kibble in her bowl and top with a little skimmed milk. She really looked forward to her 'bowl of cereal'.

DIXIESMAMA

[CA_POPPY]

Dixie Flyer wrote:
He hasn't lost any more weight since last weigh in so we have to cut back some more on the food. Boy he is really going to like me for that!!

Rich, it's hard for anybody, human or otherwise, to lose weight during a period of less activity. OF is probably doing well just to maintain his weight, until he can start going on longer walks. What kind of food is he having? Is it something you can mix frozen green beans in with? That's a good, filling and low cal food supplement many dog owners use. You're doing fine, be patient with yourself and OF. One day at a time....