Acampingwewillgo
USA
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All I can say after following this thread is... "Bless" all of those involved in "Old Fella's" recovery. As a matter of fact, lets "Bless" everyone who loves their pets as it appears everyone here does. Im amased at the out pouring of Love shown here. Im a grown man, but I too had to stop the tears from falling down my face. What a story and Great ending and such a wonderful Doggie!! I think a Branson trip next summer sounds excellent....and what better place to be than amoung others who love their pets as much as I love mine.
Dwight
96 Vogue Prima Vista
The Kid's: Humphrie, the Mini Schnauzer and Georgie,wire haired dachshund.
Rainbow Bridge: Laddie,Scoutie,Katie,Cooper,Kodie,Rubie,Maggie, Cassie, Mollie, Elvis, Potter and Rosie Love You! (40+ years in all)
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dogdiva
Crockett Tx
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Dixie Flyer
I just read this entire thread and want to thank you for all you have done for Ol Fella and for sharing with all of us.The GOod Lord does work in amazing ways, and hopefully many of us will be inspired to help another of His critters that have been neglected by thoughtless humans
You have a great way of writing, perhaps you could write a childrens book.......Who knows, what your act of kindness could lead to.They say, everything happens for a reason........
I shall look forward to hearing more about O F and his adventures with you.....
Elizabeth and Henry..... rescues
Crickett, Beau, Lady, Dixie, Batman, Penny, Bonnie Colleen, SouiX C, George, Willie, Pierre, Shandi. Honey, Patches ,Gumby...WAITING at the Rainbow Bridge
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Dixie Flyer
Piedmont, SC 29673
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Old Fella just got a gift in the mail, some red booties. I put one on his club foot and he looks so handsome. The bootie gives him character, you know, like a black patch over one eye, or the peg leg on a pirate. Makes you think "yep, he has been through a lot and still survived, must be a tough old boy." He is still doing great and learning more everyday on being sociable. Thank you once again for your show of kindness for Old Fella, he has gained a lot of friends that he wants to meet very much.
2016 Ford F250 King Ranch Crew Cab 6.7 Power Stroke
2015 Montana Model 3611 with 4400 Pullrite Hitch.
Wife Sue
Pets: Rainbow Bridge: Bart, Old Fella, Levi, Charlie, Mama, Hobo, Izzie, Peaches. Others Suzie, Dixie.
Old Fella Burke County Animal Rescue
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Susannethewriter
St. Louis, Mo.
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Joined: 10/06/2005
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My Newspaper column about Old Fella....
ANIMAL TAILS
by
SUSANNE FOGLE
The old dog looked as if he were on his last legs. He was hanging around a campground and, Rich Daniels, who was there with his wife for the Labor Day weekend, felt sorry for him. Rich reached out to give the old, gray-muzzled dog a pat, but the dog shied away, obviously distrustful of the friendly overture. “Come on, boy. Don’t be afraid,” Rich talked softly to him. But the dog, although he seemed interested, wouldn’t let anyone get too close.
For the next couple of days Rich tossed him food scraps, which he instantly gobbled down, but no amount of sweet talk could convince the mutt to let his new benefactor touch him. This animal had seen hard times. He was skinny with patchy hair loss around his face and ears and some of his front teeth were missing. He had a noticeable limp and eventually, Rich realized part of one foot was gone. It appeared he had suffered an injury at some point, but the wound was healed and the limp seemed to be the result of his missing toes, rather than pain.
The thing that bothered Rich most of all was the haunting look in the old dog’s eyes. Eyes, which he would later say, “had seen way too much.” As Labor Day drew to a close, Rich and his wife, Sue, packed their RV and after giving him one last meal, bade the old dog farewell.
But for some inexplicable reason, Rich just couldn’t get the plight of the dog out of his mind. “I kept seeing those soulful eyes, and wondering how he was doing. I wanted to help him, but the idea seemed crazy. He wouldn’t let me touch him, so going back and trying to catch him and bring him home seemed ludicrous. Still, I couldn’t seem to forget him.”
Rich and Sue have had a recreational vehicle (RV) for years and are longtime members of an internet site called RV.Net, where folks share stories and information about campgrounds and trips they have taken throughout the country. Within this internet community is a sub-group of pet owners who exchange information and stories about traveling and living with their animals.
Although, Rich and Sue have a dog and cat, neither of them had ever posted remarks in the “Pet Health” section of the RV site. The Tuesday after Labor Day, Rich decided maybe some of the RV pet owners could give him advice about the old dog. “I couldn’t believe it, but I was actually considering going back and trying to catch him. Maybe I was hoping these people would try to talk me out of such a dumb idea.”
His questions elicited lots of advice, all right, but not the kind he expected. This is an animal loving group and not one response suggested he forget about this dog that was so obviously in dire need. “Do anything you can to help him,” was the general gist of every single reply, with lots of creative ideas about how to catch him.
So, armed with tasty goodies, a dog crate and good intentions, Rich, unbeknownst to his wife, made the sixty-mile drive back to the campground. He quickly located the old dog, but no amount of baiting, cajoling or pleading could convince him to enter the crate. Rich left the food and drove back home, defeated and depressed.
“Don’t give up!” his new friends on the internet, urged. More advice, more encouragement. Rich found himself vowing, whatever it took, by God, he was going to help that darn dog. “That’s the spirit!” the internet gang chorused.
Rich called his vet. Maybe he could slip the dog a tranquilizer. “Not a bad idea,” replied the vet. Then the doctor added, “Look, Rich. If you do get him, bring him here. He probably needs lots of medical attention. I’ll give you a deal … maybe only charge you for the drugs. We’ll work it out. I’d really like to see the old dog get some help.”
“My wife’s gonna kill me when she finds out about this. Who knows what this dog is like. Our dog would probably be okay with a new roommate, but Sue’s cat is her special baby and she would never want to risk his safety for this old stray.”
“Well, Rich,” the doc replied, “if we can get him healthy, we might be able to find someone to adopt him. It’s worth a shot, don’t you think?”
“Go, Rich!” the internet community responded. And go, he did. After the third trip, he finally confessed to Sue. “I’ve been sneaking back to the campground, trying to catch the dog.”
“It’s okay, Honey. Oh Lordy. Think we’re both getting senile in our old age?”
“I don’t know,” he replied. I know it sounds nuts, but I made a promise to the old boy, and I’ve got to try.”
******
Many of my columns are about the cruel things people do to animals. So often I find myself writing about human selfishness and neglect. However, this story is about human heroes. Rich managed to capture the dog and took him to the vet. He was a mess; about ten years old, malnourished, positive for heartworms, a fungal infection in his eyes, hundreds of fleas and a benign tumor that had to be removed. Even with the vet doing much of the needed care for free, the bill would be enormous.
Rich reported the distressing news to his new friends on the internet. Immediately, he began getting offers to help with expenses. “Where can I send a donation?” was the message repeated time and time again. With his vet’s blessing, Rich provided the clinic name and address to the group. Within days, checks began to arrive. People sent checks from California, Ohio, Georgia, (Rich’s home state) Hawaii and many other places. There was even one from Canada. The donations covered the entire bill with a little left over for future medical care the vet says the dog will need.
“Have you named him?” Rich was asked. “Can you post a picture?”
He took pictures and began giving daily reports on the dog’s progress. “I just started calling him Old Fella,” he told them. “I guess, for now, that’s his name. When I find him a real home, maybe his new owners will want to change it.”
The old dog thrived and his story spread. Rich began hearing from folks who knew some of his history. A rancher whose land abuts the campground told him the dog had been hanging around for about five years. “We’ve left food out for him, but we’ve never been able to catch him,” the rancher related. “We figure he was at the campground with his family and got loose, then got his foot caught in a leg-hold trap. He probably chewed part of his foot off to get free, but by then the folks who owned him had left. He never stopped going to the campground … waiting for them to come back, I guess.”
Rich visited Old Fella at the clinic every day and the old dog soon lost his fear of humans. Rich and the clinic staff were accepted as friends and the dog proved to be well-mannered, and surprise, surprise … housebroken.
Enough suspense. Time for the “icing-on-the-cake” ending. Rich and Sue took Old Fella home over a week ago, and despite Izzie the cat’s first reservations, the two are becoming pals. Levi, the family dog, didn’t hesitate to give Old Fella a hearty greeting and they became instant buddies.
As for Rich and Sue, they are no longer looking for a home for Old Fella. “We’ve promised him he’ll always have a kind and loving home with us,” says Rich.
“Hurray!” their internet pals have written. Old Fella just wags his tail as he settles into his forever home.
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Mickey T
Little Rock, Arkansas
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Brava, Susanne! Bravisima!!
And another big bravo to the Daniels!
Mickey
2001 Jayco Eagle 314 BHS 31' TT
2000 Ford Excursion 4x4 Diesel
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MrsSoCalToolGuy
Fountain Valley Ca.
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Joined: 06/06/2005
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Thankyou Susanne for sharing your column with us.I'm sure your readers will enjoy this wonderful story, as much as all of us have. I've got a feeling that Old Fella's fan club will expand and there will be a lot more folks joining us here at RV.Net, on this thread.![[emoticon]](http://www.coastresorts.com/sharedcontent/cfb/images/smile.gif "smile") ..Barb
2001 Fleetwood Southwind 32V
2011 Scion XB
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kimette
so cal
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what a beautiful story. I just starting reading this story today, several hours l and a box or two of kleenex later... I am just thrilled with the happy ending. Bless you all for being so postive and supportive. I joined this group to learn more about RVing and have learned so much more than that. Someone I met on a walk with my fosters said to me "there is a special place in heaven for people like you" The words touched me as did (does) this story.
Thank you all for being such wonderful and caring people. It touches my heart to know there are so many people out there who care so much.
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Pauls^lady
Central Valley, CA
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Joined: 07/19/2005
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Well done Susanne! I like how you made the folks on RV.net sound like the peanut gallery! Let us know if you get any feedback on your column.
Pamela
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DrBob
Fairview, NC, USA
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Great effort Susanne. However, unless you are a wordsmith like Dickens or Melville it would be difficult to make a full book out of this. As one of the original contributors (and the one from Hawaii) I would be happy to help with your effort.
2013 Newmar Ventana 3433
2014 Jeep Rubicon Unlimited
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Dixie Flyer
Piedmont, SC 29673
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Writing the book of Old Fella's journey will take good detective work and I believe Susanne is going to find out more than we ever thought. It seems the people of Modoc are remembering more about Old Fella than any of us thought. Nina was telling me about people seeing him crossing the railroad tracks and stopping to check to see if anything was coming and doing the same at the busy highway. The town of Modoc is close to the campground but it is still about 1/2 mile or a little more. It seems Old Fella had some following around the general store there and he had some other places he visited. The old boy had a hard life, but he had figured out how to get around and find food and shelter. It is strange however that no one ever tried to take him in. It seems he wanted it that way as he would shy away if anyone made a move to touch him.
When I came along I think he was getting worn down, because of age, health and the bad foot and was trying to find someone he felt he could trust. When he came to our campsite those days we were there in Modoc, it was as if he was asking me to take him out of the mess he was in. Those eyes were so haunting and so tired looking. I think he knew he would never survive the coming winter.
When I came home and began to write in the forum he had already found a place in my heart. I could not stand the thought of him spending another winter there and perhaps dying there when he was already buried so deep in my heart. Susanne was right with her insight to my plight. I was hoping someone would talk me out of going back to get him. As I write this, with him laying at my feet sound asleep, I cannot imagine life now without him. I am sure he will teach me many things in the time we have left together. My hope is I will be a good student. Life has many roads and intersections in which we must make decisions on which pathway we will take. I am so grateful that I chose to journey down the road in which Old Fella became a part of my life. This forum has been a major part of that journey and for that I am truly grateful.
I wish everyone a good Night and a heart felt thanks.
Dixie Flyer
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