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]

Code2High wrote:
How is Mama's slimming plan proceeding?

Mama has dropped three more pounds. She now weighs 79-1/2 pounds. It is coming off slowly but I think that is best for her. She stays hungry all the time and begs for food which is hard on Sue and I.

[Code2High]

How is Mama's slimming plan proceeding?

[Dixie_Flyer]

Madd Rabit Mud Racing Check this out for some wild rides

[Dixie_Flyer]

Yep it runs in the blood.:B

I built engines for race cars back in the mid to late 50's. I tried my hand at dirt track racing for a while before joining a raciing team out of Augusta, Ga. My main job was building Holly carburators for the Ford teams. That came about in the late 50's and early 60's. I had a lot of fun but with a family to support I had to leave the circuit and stay close to home. My son Scott isn't married so he has only himself to worry about which makes it easy for him to stay out there racing. The man he works for helps sponsor him which makes it even better.

[Dashonthedash]

I wonder where your son got his interest in racing vehicles...:B

[Dixie_Flyer]

Madd Rabbit This is my son Scott's race truck in an event. Saturday night it caught fire during a race but Scott was not hurt.

[Dixie_Flyer]

It was 49 degrees here this morning but the mountains had a hard freeze. Mama loved it outside this morning as she was full of herself after going outside and then coming back in. Suzie for some reason wanted back in the minute she went outside.

I had a good football weekend as The Falcons won their game on Sunday. With the college ranks I will have to pull for Georgia when they play South Carolina and Florida, that should be two good games.

Hobo and Peaches are doing well. Peaches is eleven years old and still going strong. Izzie the cat is eleven years old as well and still jet black without a trace of gray or white hair. We are so blessed to have such healthy pets. Mama because of her size and age is the on;y one having problems with joint pain. But the meds she is on really helps to keep her going. We lost Bart our Dobie at nine because of complications from arthritis and blood circulation to his front feet. His mind was still sharp but his hips and legs were a mess. I will never forget the morning he passed to Rainbow Bridge, it was so hard to see him go. Out of all the pets he was the smartest we have ever had.

Okay I need to go and get ready to face the day, talk with you later.

[TTBeachBum]

I love your Mama account. As you know, this is not forever, thankbyou for staying with her.

[Dixie_Flyer]

Sue and I have walked the girls, they have been fed amd we are ready for church. Yesterday was a good day as we enjoyed our outing in Greenville. The fall weather is great, ejoying the cool nights sitting on the patio watching the stars.

Georgia and South Carolina won their games yesterday while Clemson lost theirs. The show down between South Carolina and Georgia will be interesting as well as the Georgia Florida game. The Falcons are rolling along undefeated so far, so I am enjoying the football season so far. Sue got her cupola on the house the only problem is the East is pointed toward the West and the West is pointed toward the East, so they will have to come back and fix that.

[Code2High]

We all have our bad days... but unfortunately we're all getting older, too. Sometimes it's a little of both and stuff just hurts!

[Dixie_Flyer]

Mama seems to be better this morning. I guess she is like a lot of us, good and bad days. But anyway she is getting about and went outside this morning without any trouble.

Sue and I are going down town this morning to see some of the activities going on in Greenville. There is always something going on in Greenville that is interesting. This is a great place to live with sports, plays, all kinds of social activities. The down town section with its renovations is beautiful. It is always crowded, but not too much to discourage you from enjoying yourself.

The Up State Rescue still needs foster homes and there are some darling little puppies and small adult dogs that need homes. Okay I am going to get ready to face the day, talk with you later.

[Dixie_Flyer]

Mama is struggling this morning with her hips. She doesn't feel well enough to go outside but she did eat her breakfast. I don't know where to go from here with medication. She is on 50 mg Tramadol two tablets twice a day, Joint Strong every morning and Medacam every morning. I guess I could increase the Tramadol to see if that helps but I don't want to over medicate her. If she doesn't fell better by the time we go for our walk I will give her another Tramadol to see if that helps.

It was cool this morning but the sky is clear with bright sunshine. The high today will be in the 80's, nice fall weather. The Dogwood trees are starting to show some color in the leaves so it won't be long now before we feel the cold bite of frost. I hope everyone has a blessed day and enjpys family and friends. Talk with you later.

[dturm]

LOL. Megan used to grab a pillow and bring it to us and drop it on the floor, stand and look at us. Time for bed!!

[Dixie_Flyer]

Okay. Now I have to tell you this story about Mama. Last night at 9:30 Mama got up from her bed in the family room and walked toward the bedroom. She stopped and came back to look at me, she stood there and barked. I got up to see what she wanted and walked toward her. She turned and walked toward the bedroom, stopped, turned her heard looking back over her shoulder and barked again, follow me she said. So I followed her to the bedroom where she lay on her bed and looked at me to give her a good night love pat and hug.

With that done I returned to the family room and sat back in the lounge chair to finish watching my TV program. After a few minutes enters Mama, she stops looks at me and barks. I get up and walk toward her to see what she wants, she turns and walks toward the bedroom. I followed her to realize she not only wanted to go to bed but she wanted me to stay there with her. So as a dutiful parent who loves his fur daughter I obliged by going to bed. She slept all night never moving from her bed until the sun came up this morning.

I have noticed more of this behavior lately. She wants me to be by her side or somewhere close by. When I leave in the truck without her she goes to the door and waits for me to return. If I don’t return when she thinks I should she will find Sue and sit and stare at her asking, when will Dad be home? Sue says Mama can hear the truck coming down the road even before I get to the house and will run to the door to greet me as I come in. The love of a dog is beyond our understanding.:)

[Dashonthedash]

Unfortunately, the fact that she is a pit mix is a mark against her, even if she has a sweet disposition. Many municipalities (including Denver) prohibit the possession of anything that even looks like a pit bull, as do many campgrounds. She deserves a good home; I'm really hoping that you find one for her.