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

[dturm]

Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah to all.

[Dandy_Dan]

Merry Chrisstmas to all of you on the Old Fella Forum.
May your upcoming year be filled with Happiness and Good Camping Weather.:B:B:B::B:B:B:B:B

[Hoops]

Merry Christmas to all. May you have a blessed day.

[colliehauler]

Merry Christmas Richard

[Dixie_Flyer]

It's Christmas morning and the girls have been given their Christmas stockings. I will post pictures later as we have to leave early. Hobo gobbled her bone down in a hurry, expected. Mama, Peaches,and Suzie are still working on theirs. The toys had to wait while the first order of business is taken care of. But I am sure by evening they will receive all the attention they can take and survive. Merry Christmas everyone.

[dogdiva]

MERRY CHRISTMAS to all, from Henry and ELizabeth and Mary Lou

May Peace and Joy fill you hearts

[kokosfriend]

Merry Christmas from Barb and the "herd."

[campingshadow]

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Shadow and Heidi. May life bring you nothing but happiness and sweet memories.

[Dashonthedash]

Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah

From Gary, Dash, Lily and Molly
And River in Colorado Springs

Correction. River is back in Denver with the sub-foster. The prospective adopter is still grieving for her previous greyhound, and was not ready for another dog.

[SGTJOE]

Merry Christmas to all of you and your FurKids.

From Joe, Angie, Cookie, Rocky and the Cats too, Panda and Murray

[campincandice]

Merry Christmas Richard and Sue, and all of your furbabies!!!

[Dixie_Flyer]

Merry Christmas Eve! What a day so far, great! The girls have all been out for their walk, Mama was chasing buzzards that were flying close to the road. I have noticed Mama will look toward the sky for large birds, especially any kind of hawk. She gets alarmed when she sees one and will try to chase it away. I guess it comes from the days when she was guardian of the cats and kittens, she must have seen her share of hawks swooping down and grabbing kittens and taking them away. Anyway she is very alert about large birds overhead and will bark and chase them.

This morning there were several buzzards roosting in a tree next to the swampy area and every once in a while one would fly over us, This set Mama off with barking and truning around in circles while she looked overhead. We continued our walk but Mama never took her eyes off the birds flying over us.

It is nice outside with sunshine and not so cold temperatures. The rain has gone and the day calls for nice weather for the next few days. I wish everyone a blessed day and I hope Santa is good to you tonight.

[Dixie_Flyer]

This morning we were greeted with clear skies and shirt sleeve weather. I just got back with the girls and I couldn't believe how warm it is. It looks as if we will see warm weather for about a week, what a difference from last year with all the snow and cold weather. We are looking forward to our trip next week to Hunting Island and to be able to walk on the beach and enjoy the sunshine and gentle breezes off the ocean.

I hope everyone is looking forward to a wonderful Christmas day celebrating with friends and family.

[Code2High]

Yeah, if you cut them back to what they really need, they'll clean their bowls when they hit the floor.

Now if for some reason a dog didn't clean things up, I'd probably let the others have it while I called the vet, because it's so unusual here. But if it was a day to day occurance, there'd be some portion changes coming down the pike. And I wouldn't ever leave it sitting there all day... if they don't eat it when you feed it, I'd say up it goes until the next scheduled meal.

[Dixie_Flyer]

I have been young and now I am old and there is one thing I haven't seen, the skeleton of a dog by a bowl of food.:B They will eat when they get hungry enough. I just don't like dog food sitting out all day until someone decides to eat.