Rambo was my son's beloved pet, a Lab mix who was by his side constantly from the day Andrew adopted him in April of 2011.
At the time that Rambo came into his life, Andrew was still in Bible college but working full time at Mount Moriah Christian Camp and Conference Center in Powell, Tennessee. Rambo was, from day one, the "Camp Dog." He gloried in being camp dog. Campers of all ages squealed with delight when they saw him. Rambo would patiently wag his tail, standing for long periods of time while children gathered round to pet and love on him. There are pictures of Rambo acting as a pillow for a napping child. It was as though he knew his function and purpose was to provide comfort.
Rambo ran and frolicked in the East Tennessee hills, chasing wild turkeys in the early morning frost in the fall and lolling in the grass in summer. Andrew believes that Rambo was happiest when hiking and camping with his family in the Great Smoky Mountains.
He served as Dog of Honor at Andrew's wedding to Brittany in March of 2018, and he was a constant sweet companion to their baby daughter, Ember, age two when Rambo passed.
Andrew reminisced to me about how he would sometimes lie on the floor beside Rambo, who would immediately put a paw on his master's arm. He never wanted Andrew to get up. He'd wriggle closer and even snuggle his head against Andrew's chest. His big heart was so loving that he needed lots of love in return. And he got it.
Andrew had Rambo certified as a Service Dog and he went everywhere, bringing delight and smiles of joy to anyone who met him. Rambo was the gentlest, sweetest dog that ever drew breath. We have even seen him allow other dogs to sit on him as he lounged on the floor, without so much as turning a hair. There was no guile in him; he was a treasure in every sense of the word.
Whenever you saw Rambo, he would come up to you and extend a paw. He'd proffer the paw over and over, whether to greet you or shake hands or whatever. Sometimes he'd bow his head and press it into your knees, hoping for a prolonged session of scritching and rubbing in his neck and shoulder area. Even if he was sound asleep on the floor, when Andrew whispered his name, Rambo would wag his tail. He was the most faithful canine friend anyone could ever imagine. We were all so lucky and blessed to have known him.
Rambo developed osteosarcoma in his left front leg during the summer of 2020. He got along all right for a while, but then the cancer began to grow and because of his advanced age, there was very little that could be done. Towards the end he could barely walk, and Andrew knew the inevitable was coming. During the early days of April 2022, Rambo's health went into swift decline. Andrew scheduled a vet appointment for Friday, April 15th, but one week before that, Rambo took a severe turn for the worse. It was decided that Andrew would bring Rambo to the vet the following Monday and, once there, it was confirmed that the time had come to say goodbye.
Ever a camp dog, Rambo loved a campfire. On the final night of his buddy's life, Andrew built one last fire in the fire pit on the patio, and they sat together for hours watching the flames, and then the embers. The next morning, Rambo trotted across the Rainbow Bridge and is at peace forever.
My cherished granddog will be loved and missed every day until we are all together once again in heaven. Andrew knows that he was privileged to have been Rambo's human, but even so, it hurts. God is comforting our hearts now and He will be faithful to see us through the future as we remember how fortunate we were to have had Rambo in our lives.
Because Rambo passed on while Andrew was in pilot training at Vance Air Force Base in Enid, Oklahoma, he was cremated. Andrew plans to bury his dog's remains at the camp someday when he returns with his family to live in East Tennessee.
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Forgive my grief for one removed,
Thy creature, whom I found so fair.
I trust he lives in thee, and there
I find him worthier to be loved.
Alfred, Lord Tennyson
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At the time that Rambo came into his life, Andrew was still in Bible college but working full time at Mount Moriah Christian Camp and Conference Center in Powell, Tennessee. Rambo was, from day one, the "Camp Dog." He gloried in being camp dog. Campers of all ages squealed with delight when they saw him. Rambo would patiently wag his tail, standing for long periods of time while children gathered round to pet and love on him. There are pictures of Rambo acting as a pillow for a napping child. It was as though he knew his function and purpose was to provide comfort.
Rambo ran and frolicked in the East Tennessee hills, chasing wild turkeys in the early morning frost in the fall and lolling in the grass in summer. Andrew believes that Rambo was happiest when hiking and camping with his family in the Great Smoky Mountains.
He served as Dog of Honor at Andrew's wedding to Brittany in March of 2018, and he was a constant sweet companion to their baby daughter, Ember, age two when Rambo passed.
Andrew reminisced to me about how he would sometimes lie on the floor beside Rambo, who would immediately put a paw on his master's arm. He never wanted Andrew to get up. He'd wriggle closer and even snuggle his head against Andrew's chest. His big heart was so loving that he needed lots of love in return. And he got it.
Andrew had Rambo certified as a Service Dog and he went everywhere, bringing delight and smiles of joy to anyone who met him. Rambo was the gentlest, sweetest dog that ever drew breath. We have even seen him allow other dogs to sit on him as he lounged on the floor, without so much as turning a hair. There was no guile in him; he was a treasure in every sense of the word.
Whenever you saw Rambo, he would come up to you and extend a paw. He'd proffer the paw over and over, whether to greet you or shake hands or whatever. Sometimes he'd bow his head and press it into your knees, hoping for a prolonged session of scritching and rubbing in his neck and shoulder area. Even if he was sound asleep on the floor, when Andrew whispered his name, Rambo would wag his tail. He was the most faithful canine friend anyone could ever imagine. We were all so lucky and blessed to have known him.
Rambo developed osteosarcoma in his left front leg during the summer of 2020. He got along all right for a while, but then the cancer began to grow and because of his advanced age, there was very little that could be done. Towards the end he could barely walk, and Andrew knew the inevitable was coming. During the early days of April 2022, Rambo's health went into swift decline. Andrew scheduled a vet appointment for Friday, April 15th, but one week before that, Rambo took a severe turn for the worse. It was decided that Andrew would bring Rambo to the vet the following Monday and, once there, it was confirmed that the time had come to say goodbye.
Ever a camp dog, Rambo loved a campfire. On the final night of his buddy's life, Andrew built one last fire in the fire pit on the patio, and they sat together for hours watching the flames, and then the embers. The next morning, Rambo trotted across the Rainbow Bridge and is at peace forever.
My cherished granddog will be loved and missed every day until we are all together once again in heaven. Andrew knows that he was privileged to have been Rambo's human, but even so, it hurts. God is comforting our hearts now and He will be faithful to see us through the future as we remember how fortunate we were to have had Rambo in our lives.
Because Rambo passed on while Andrew was in pilot training at Vance Air Force Base in Enid, Oklahoma, he was cremated. Andrew plans to bury his dog's remains at the camp someday when he returns with his family to live in East Tennessee.
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Forgive my grief for one removed,
Thy creature, whom I found so fair.
I trust he lives in thee, and there
I find him worthier to be loved.
Alfred, Lord Tennyson
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Rambo was my son's beloved pet, a Lab mix who was by his side constantly from the day Andrew adopted him in April of 2011.
At the time that Rambo came into his life, Andrew was still in Bible college but working full time at Mount Moriah Christian Camp and Conference Center in Powell, Tennessee. Rambo was, from day one, the "Camp Dog." He gloried in being camp dog. Campers of all ages squealed with delight when they saw him. Rambo would patiently wag his tail, standing for long periods of time while children gathered round to pet and love on him. There are pictures of Rambo acting as a pillow for a napping child. It was as though he knew his function and purpose was to provide comfort.
Rambo ran and frolicked in the East Tennessee hills, chasing wild turkeys in the early morning frost in the fall and lolling in the grass in summer. Andrew believes that Rambo was happiest when hiking and camping with his family in the Great Smoky Mountains.
He served as Dog of Honor at Andrew's wedding to Brittany in March of 2018, and he was a constant sweet companion to their baby daughter, Ember, age two when Rambo passed.
Andrew reminisced to me about how he would sometimes lie on the floor beside Rambo, who would immediately put a paw on his master's arm. He never wanted Andrew to get up. He'd wriggle closer and even snuggle his head against Andrew's chest. His big heart was so loving that he needed lots of love in return. And he got it.
Andrew had Rambo certified as a Service Dog and he went everywhere, bringing delight and smiles of joy to anyone who met him. Rambo was the gentlest, sweetest dog that ever drew breath. We have even seen him allow other dogs to sit on him as he lounged on the floor, without so much as turning a hair. There was no guile in him; he was a treasure in every sense of the word.
Whenever you saw Rambo, he would come up to you and extend a paw. He'd proffer the paw over and over, whether to greet you or shake hands or whatever. Sometimes he'd bow his head and press it into your knees, hoping for a prolonged session of scritching and rubbing in his neck and shoulder area. Even if he was sound asleep on the floor, when Andrew whispered his name, Rambo would wag his tail. He was the most faithful canine friend anyone could ever imagine. We were all so lucky and blessed to have known him.
Rambo developed osteosarcoma in his left front leg during the summer of 2020. He got along all right for a while, but then the cancer began to grow and because of his advanced age, there was very little that could be done. Towards the end he could barely walk, and Andrew knew the inevitable was coming. During the early days of April 2022, Rambo's health went into swift decline. Andrew scheduled a vet appointment for Friday, April 15th, but one week before that, Rambo took a severe turn for the worse. It was decided that Andrew would bring Rambo to the vet the following Monday and, once there, it was confirmed that the time had come to say goodbye.
Ever a camp dog, Rambo loved a campfire. On the final night of his buddy's life, Andrew built one last fire in the fire pit on the patio, and they sat together for hours watching the flames, and then the embers. The next morning, Rambo trotted across the Rainbow Bridge and is at peace forever.
My cherished granddog will be loved and missed every day until we are all together once again in heaven. Andrew knows that he was privileged to have been Rambo's human, but even so, it hurts. God is comforting our hearts now and He will be faithful to see us through the future as we remember how fortunate we were to have had Rambo in our lives.
Because Rambo passed on while Andrew was in pilot training at Vance Air Force Base in Enid, Oklahoma, he was cremated. Andrew plans to bury his dog's remains at the camp someday when he returns with his family to live in East Tennessee.
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Forgive my grief for one removed,
Thy creature, whom I found so fair.
I trust he lives in thee, and there
I find him worthier to be loved.
Alfred, Lord Tennyson
=0=0=0=
At the time that Rambo came into his life, Andrew was still in Bible college but working full time at Mount Moriah Christian Camp and Conference Center in Powell, Tennessee. Rambo was, from day one, the "Camp Dog." He gloried in being camp dog. Campers of all ages squealed with delight when they saw him. Rambo would patiently wag his tail, standing for long periods of time while children gathered round to pet and love on him. There are pictures of Rambo acting as a pillow for a napping child. It was as though he knew his function and purpose was to provide comfort.
Rambo ran and frolicked in the East Tennessee hills, chasing wild turkeys in the early morning frost in the fall and lolling in the grass in summer. Andrew believes that Rambo was happiest when hiking and camping with his family in the Great Smoky Mountains.
He served as Dog of Honor at Andrew's wedding to Brittany in March of 2018, and he was a constant sweet companion to their baby daughter, Ember, age two when Rambo passed.
Andrew reminisced to me about how he would sometimes lie on the floor beside Rambo, who would immediately put a paw on his master's arm. He never wanted Andrew to get up. He'd wriggle closer and even snuggle his head against Andrew's chest. His big heart was so loving that he needed lots of love in return. And he got it.
Andrew had Rambo certified as a Service Dog and he went everywhere, bringing delight and smiles of joy to anyone who met him. Rambo was the gentlest, sweetest dog that ever drew breath. We have even seen him allow other dogs to sit on him as he lounged on the floor, without so much as turning a hair. There was no guile in him; he was a treasure in every sense of the word.
Whenever you saw Rambo, he would come up to you and extend a paw. He'd proffer the paw over and over, whether to greet you or shake hands or whatever. Sometimes he'd bow his head and press it into your knees, hoping for a prolonged session of scritching and rubbing in his neck and shoulder area. Even if he was sound asleep on the floor, when Andrew whispered his name, Rambo would wag his tail. He was the most faithful canine friend anyone could ever imagine. We were all so lucky and blessed to have known him.
Rambo developed osteosarcoma in his left front leg during the summer of 2020. He got along all right for a while, but then the cancer began to grow and because of his advanced age, there was very little that could be done. Towards the end he could barely walk, and Andrew knew the inevitable was coming. During the early days of April 2022, Rambo's health went into swift decline. Andrew scheduled a vet appointment for Friday, April 15th, but one week before that, Rambo took a severe turn for the worse. It was decided that Andrew would bring Rambo to the vet the following Monday and, once there, it was confirmed that the time had come to say goodbye.
Ever a camp dog, Rambo loved a campfire. On the final night of his buddy's life, Andrew built one last fire in the fire pit on the patio, and they sat together for hours watching the flames, and then the embers. The next morning, Rambo trotted across the Rainbow Bridge and is at peace forever.
My cherished granddog will be loved and missed every day until we are all together once again in heaven. Andrew knows that he was privileged to have been Rambo's human, but even so, it hurts. God is comforting our hearts now and He will be faithful to see us through the future as we remember how fortunate we were to have had Rambo in our lives.
Because Rambo passed on while Andrew was in pilot training at Vance Air Force Base in Enid, Oklahoma, he was cremated. Andrew plans to bury his dog's remains at the camp someday when he returns with his family to live in East Tennessee.
=0=0=0=
Forgive my grief for one removed,
Thy creature, whom I found so fair.
I trust he lives in thee, and there
I find him worthier to be loved.
Alfred, Lord Tennyson
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