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. โCome on, boy. Donโt be afraid,โ Rich talked softly to him. But the dog, although he seemed interested, wouldnโt 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 dogโs eyes. Eyes, which he would later say, โhad seen way too much.โ 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 couldnโt get the plight of the dog out of his mind. โI kept seeing those soulful eyes, and wondering how he was doing. I wanted to help him, but the idea seemed crazy. He wouldnโt let me touch him, so going back and trying to catch him and bring him home seemed ludicrous. Still, I couldnโt seem to forget him.โ
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 โPet Healthโ 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. โI couldnโt 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.โ
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. โDo anything you can to help him,โ 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.
โDonโt give up!โ 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. โThatโs the spirit!โ the internet gang chorused.
Rich called his vet. Maybe he could slip the dog a tranquilizer. โNot a bad idea,โ replied the vet. Then the doctor added, โLook, Rich. If you do get him, bring him here. He probably needs lots of medical attention. Iโll give you a deal โฆ maybe only charge you for the drugs. Weโll work it out. Iโd really like to see the old dog get some help.โ
โMy wifeโs 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 Sueโs cat is her special baby and she would never want to risk his safety for this old stray.โ
โWell, Rich,โ the doc replied, โif we can get him healthy, we might be able to find someone to adopt him. Itโs worth a shot, donโt you think?โ
โGo, Rich!โ the internet community responded. And go, he did. After the third trip, he finally confessed to Sue. โIโve been sneaking back to the campground, trying to catch the dog.โ
โItโs okay, Honey. Oh Lordy. Think weโre both getting senile in our old age?โ
โI donโt know,โ he replied. I know it sounds nuts, but I made a promise to the old boy, and Iโve got to try.โ
******
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. โWhere can I send a donation?โ was the message repeated time and time again. With his vetโs blessing, Rich provided the clinic name and address to the group. Within days, checks began to arrive. People sent checks from California, Ohio, Georgia, (Richโs 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.
โHave you named him?โ Rich was asked. โCan you post a picture?โ
He took pictures and began giving daily reports on the dogโs progress. โI just started calling him Old Fella,โ he told them. โI guess, for now, thatโs his name. When I find him a real home, maybe his new owners will want to change it.โ
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. โWeโve left food out for him, but weโve never been able to catch him,โ the rancher related. โWe 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 โฆ waiting for them to come back, I guess.โ
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 โฆ housebroken.
Enough suspense. Time for the โicing-on-the-cakeโ ending. Rich and Sue took Old Fella home over a week ago, and despite Izzie the catโs first reservations, the two are becoming pals. Levi, the family dog, didnโt 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. โWeโve promised him heโll always have a kind and loving home with us,โ says Rich.
โHurray!โ their internet pals have written. Old Fella just wags his tail as he settles into his forever home.
