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]

dturm wrote:
Which park are you staying at, nice to get a first hand review. A few years ago we were lucky enough to get a site at Top Sail Hill state park, I think the nicest state park we have ever stayed at.

Doug

We are at Camping on the Gulf

It is a bit pricey but well worth the extra bucks.

[dturm]

Which park are you staying at, nice to get a first hand review. A few years ago we were lucky enough to get a site at Top Sail Hill state park, I think the nicest state park we have ever stayed at.

Doug

[campincandice]

Sounds wonderful Richard! While it is nice and warm by Chicago standards, I'd love a 75 degree sunny day :C

[dogdiva]

I am so glad you are all having a great time, thanks for posting

[Dixie_Flyer]

Oh my gosh, how beautiful it is here. It is 72* out and the beach is so nice. The girls had a wonderful time at the park, it was very nice. Sue made me stop at a donut place, I swear she did and she bought some of the best donuts. I guess your next question is why did I eat a donut? Well she made me! She said if I didn;t eat one she would eat all of them by herself. Now I couldn't see her hurting herself like that so I had to protect her.

If you have never been to Destin you should put it on your bucket list. The park we are staying in is so nice and the people are so friendly. I called when we were close and they had someone meet us at the enterance and guided us in to the office and then took us to our campsite and made sure were in and set up. The site we are on is paved and level about 150 feet from the beach. I know we will be coming back some time in the future. It is a place you can't visit just once.

I am told there are some very good places to eat close by, can't wait to find out for ourselves. The girls are sound asleep in the camper. They had such a good time. I am glad to see them enjoy themselves. Mama has fallen twice coming out of the camper because one of the other girls has pushed her doen the steps. From now on I will make sure she has total access to the steps alone while coming in and out of the camper.

Okay, I am going for now to enjoy the sun and warm weather. Talk with you later.

[Dixie_Flyer]

WE had a great trip and so far the kidney stone hasn't been a real problem. It has moved and may be on the way out. The beach here is beautiful. The girls are really having a great time and we will be taking them to a dog park this morning so they can run and continue their play time

[dogdiva]

Have a safe trip and a wonderful vacation
Prayers for you that you dont have the pain

[Dixie_Flyer]

Well I made it through the day without a problem. We plan to leave early in the morning and hope to be in Destin by mid afternoon. The girls are ready to hit the road. Mama has camped out by the door all day. I am looking forward to the week at Destin just enjoying Sue and the fur gang.

Ava will keep Izzie company while we are gone so he won't be so lonesome. I wish everyone a blessed day tomorrow and I will sign in when we get to Destin and set up.

[Dixie_Flyer]

Good morning. Wouldn't you know it. Last night I began to have pain in my right lower back, kidney stone! I hope this doesn't mess up our trip. I will see how things go today and make a decision in the morning. Sometimes these things just go away and then there are those that make life a little rough. The last one I had was on my left side and that was the worse one I have ever had. I was down for two weeks with that one.

The camper is ready sitting in the driveway hook to the truck. Sue needs to pack a few things, other than that we are ready. Mama looks at the truck and camper every time she goes out outside. “Can we go know?” She loves to ride and loves to camp. She is such a sweet girl and loves her family. This month she has been with us for three years. I never thought she would make it this long, but she has and is still doing well. I can’t help but think the supplements she is given has helped extend her days. The vet was amazed how well she is with her last exam and blood work. Sometimes I think love is the best medicine and makes life longer when there is a real desire to live. Old Fella was a good example of that. Even with cancer he managed to keep going. I am sorry we didn’t find it sooner, maybe something could have been done to help make is last days easier. Then there was Levi who was eaten up with cancer and no one knew until he began bleeding. Levi was such a sweet boy and loved attention, All he ever wanted was someone to have their hand on him gently stroking his head or rubbing his tummy.

It is time for me to go and get ready for our morning walk. Talk with you later.

[Dixie_Flyer]

Dandy Dan wrote:

Dixie Flyer wrote:
I went to a new doctor yesterday. She is supposed to be tops in her field. She told me if I followed her guidelines and lose weight she will get me off insulin and I will no longer be a diabetic, yeah, well we will see about that one? She told me she has had success with type two diabetics in getting them off insulin and with a control diet has been able to keep them off.
The miracle continues with my eye sight. I now have perfect far sighted vision in my right eye. Wednesday I noticed the highway signs were blurred and I was driving to Spartanburg. I took off my glasses to wipe my eye and discovered I was reading the signs without glasses and the vision was perfect.

Super, does this mean you could go without the glasses or will you still need possibly a different perscription for near things?
(Sent you an e-mail-thought it might be appropriate with Suzie.:B:B)

I still need help with the reading vision. I tried +2 reading glasses and they were perfect.

[Dandy_Dan]

Dixie Flyer wrote:
I went to a new doctor yesterday. She is supposed to be tops in her field. She told me if I followed her guidelines and lose weight she will get me off insulin and I will no longer be a diabetic, yeah, well we will see about that one? She told me she has had success with type two diabetics in getting them off insulin and with a control diet has been able to keep them off.
The miracle continues with my eye sight. I now have perfect far sighted vision in my right eye. Wednesday I noticed the highway signs were blurred and I was driving to Spartanburg. I took off my glasses to wipe my eye and discovered I was reading the signs without glasses and the vision was perfect.

Super, does this mean you could go without the glasses or will you still need possibly a different perscription for near things?
(Sent you an e-mail-thought it might be appropriate with Suzie.:B:B)

[Dixie_Flyer]

Good morning. It is so warm outside for this time of year. It was 53* when I got up and walked to the kitchen this morning. It rained last night and the wind blew very hard from about 5am until 7am.

Mama was guilty of excessive blasts of air during the night. I got up one time to see if there was a pile in the room. I couldn't believe anyone or anything could smell so bad and leave nothing behind. I am so looking forward to our trip to Destin. I hope the campground is okay as it had mixed reviews. Sometimes people get disgruntled over nothing and make a big thing out of it, oh well we'll see.

I went to a new doctor yesterday. She is supposed to be tops in her field. She told me if I followed her guidelines and lose weight she will get me off insulin and I will no longer be a diabetic, yeah, well we will see about that one? She told me she has had success with type two diabetics in getting them off insulin and with a control diet has been able to keep them off.
The miracle continues with my eye sight. I now have perfect far sighted vision in my right eye. Wednesday I noticed the highway signs were blurred and I was driving to Spartanburg. I took off my glasses to wipe my eye and discovered I was reading the signs without glasses and the vision was perfect. I stand on the back patio and look across the field which is about three or four hundred yards and without glasses I can see the neighbor’s barn and the tractor sitting on the trailer perfectly. What a blessing.

Okay I am going to get ready to face the day, talk with you later.

[Dixie_Flyer]

The little out of the way places of our youth are now thriving business areas. So much has changed over the years it is hard to imagine what things used to look like. Do you miss pulling into the gas station and sitting in your car will someone fills your tank and cleans your windshield, raises the hood on the car and checks the oil, adds water to the Windshield washer then checks the air in the tires?

Hilton Head South Carolina back in the 50's was a small get away place with a few houses on the beach, one gas station and no place to eat unless you brought your own. I miss some of the quiet places of the heart, where did they all go?

[dturm]

Dixie Flyer wrote:
It got very busy today and I have just settled down. I talked a while ago with Dan about our going to Destin Florida Sunday hoping he and Lori would be able to make it. I am looking forward to spending a week on the beach in the Gulf. It has been a long time since I was there. Sue has never been so I am excited for her to be able to see such a beautiful place.-.

My parents were school teachers and a group of about 5 families (mostly teachers) went to Destin in the 1960's during spring break (usually March) and I have great memories. Sandy and I went a few years ago (stayed at Top Sail Hill state park) and I was SHOCKED at how the place had changed. It used to be a little widening in the road with a dive shop, fishing outfits, a few restaruants and motels. The beaches were mostly deserted and beautiful white sand (still is) but it is now mile after mile of condos and shops. Still wonderful, but so different.

Doug

[Dixie_Flyer]

It got very busy today and I have just settled down. I talked a while ago with Dan about our going to Destin Florida Sunday hoping he and Lori would be able to make it. I am looking forward to spending a week on the beach in the Gulf. It has been a long time since I was there. Sue has never been so I am excited for her to be able to see such a beautiful place.

It is difficult to get there from here, but that is part of the fun. The girls won't be able to walk on the beach as they are not allowed. I guess some people set a bad example some time in the past so now we all have to pay the price.

I picked up the camper today, boy they did a good job on cleaning the roof and the rest of it, looks like new. We have really enjoyed ourselves the past few months and we are looking forward to more time being out and about. It is supposed to rain again tomorrow and then clear up for the rest of the week. The out look for Destin for the next ten days is also promising. Okay. its bed time so I am going to call it a night and see you in the morning, God willing.