There’s no such thing as a perfect shelter. Just think of all the noise, stress, and locked up dogs begging to be rescued, and you’ll get the picture.
Now add to that the ticking clock leading to inevitable euthanasia. There it is, Rambo’s life story unfolding right before your eyes.
I felt utterly sad for this heartbroken pup when I first learned his story.
There he was, sitting in a small kennel and awaiting his heartbreaking end, yet he couldn’t understand why. But he definitely knew he didn’t deserve it, he just didn’t know how to explain this to the people who wrote him off.
Rambo’s Inevitable End Was Close
Rambo’s backstory is largely vague. He was admitted to a shelter as a severely emaciated dog who couldn’t cope with all the shelter stress. And that was about it. No information, no microchip, or any data that could explain how he ended up alone in the first place.
Then, sadly, after four months in the shelter, he was put on the euthanasia list.
“Rambo was severely underweight. The shelter stress had just really gotten him, it’s a really hard environment for dogs to thrive in, so he was scheduled to be euthanized,” Emily told GeoBeats Animals.
Rambo’s story wasn’t popular among dog lovers, causing him to be overlooked over and over again. I guess being a scared, traumatized Pittie fighting to live another day doesn’t give you justice, does it?
Fortunately, there’s always a kind person (or two) to help a pup this heartbroken.
Thanks to an amazing Illinois rescue group called Dark Horse Dogs, Rambo was given a second chance. This foster-based facility found the dog a decent temporary home with Coco, his new foster mom, hoping to see him come out of his shell as soon as possible.
All it took him was three months. That’s right! Three months of love, care, and understanding, and Rambo was already a brand-new dog. Coco just loved seeing him blossom for the first time in years, far from tiny kennels and past traumas.
What a comeback, right? From here, things could only go forward, and that’s exactly what happened to Rambo.
After some consideration, Emily and Michael, an Illinois couple, decided to give this dog a permanent home.
Even though Michael was reluctant at first, Emily urged him to give sweet Rambo a try. She knew deep down that he was a special dog perfectly suited for them, and boy was she right!
I don’t know whether it was her natural momma instinct or just the fact that she fell head over heels for Rambo as soon as she stumbled upon his story, but Rambo lived up to her expectations! Even more than that!
He adapted amazingly with their second dog, a Pug named Rosie, who looked up to him immediately. Rosie is a naturally shy dog, yet this didn’t stop her following her big brother everywhere. He became her shoulder to cry on, her strength, and her guide – in literally everything.
And the best thing? Rambo definitely changed Michael’s perspective, too!
Mom’s Cool, But Dad’s The Coolest
Nothing screams “cute” more than a dog snuggling in his owners’ hands. Michael learned this after only a few cuddle sessions with Rambo – and he literally couldn’t stop anymore!
For some reason, this rescue pup chose Michael to be his favorite human, as if he were trying to get rid of all the stereotypes his owner was having in the first place. Whenever he saw him resting on the couch, he seized the opportunity to join in for a cuddle.
Don’t get me wrong. He loved Emily so much, too, but spending time with Michael just hit differently.
“Seeing my husband and how he’s warmed up to Rambo, it’s really sweet,” says Emily.
The two always look as if they have their own little micro world, literally soaking up all the beauty from each other’s company. That’s how much Rambo affected Michael!
Thanks to the mountains of love he receives daily from his mom and dad, Rambo is a happy-go-lucky dog today. He enjoys his food, toys, daily “chores” and playtime, as well as his adventures with Rosie.
Once a scared Pittie with no way out, Rambo could have never imagined that life would be this sweet!