Rambo, yorkie

Trucker reunites with dog left behind at rest stop
By Dominic Genetti
June 6, 2012

Gene Hill probably said it best in “The Dog Man.”

“Nobody can fully understand the meaning of love unless he’s owned a dog...”

That statement came true when Michael Siau drove his big rig back through Hannibal Tuesday to pick up his dog and best friends, Rambo.

Truck driver Michael Siau was reunited with his dog, Rambo, Tuesday morning when his truck route sent him back through Hannibal.

Siau was en route to North Dakota and made it all the way to Cedar Rapids, Iowa when he realized Rambo wasn’t in the back seat. Hannibal’s rest stop was the only logical place he could’ve gotten out, and that’s where Hannibal Animal Control Officer Tim Ledbetter found the 9-month-old patiently waiting for his master.

“In about 60 seconds, he would have been gone,” Ledbetter told Siau in the lobby of the Hannibal Police Department.

As it turned out, a family saw Rambo at the rest stop had hopes of taking the unidentified K-9 home. But Ledbetter arrived just in time, telling the family the dog was left behind by a trucker passing through.

That trucker’s reuniting with his best friend was certainly a happy moment too.

Reunited

Siau couldn’t drive around town with his truck, that was currently loaded with a transport of mangled used cars, so a Courier-Post delivery pickup truck served as his escort.

With a leash and a few “Thank You” cards to hand out to those who took the time to find Rambo, he introduced himself to the staff at the Northeast Missouri Humane Society, and then one of the employees came out with a special gift.

The puppy looked around, didn’t make direct eye contact with the stout man in decked out in a navy blue polo and jeans, appeared to be nervous, but once he saw Siau calling his name, the Yorkie began to whimper.

“Hey Rambo,” Siau said. “Did you miss Daddy?”

Rambo trembled and squirmed. He just couldn’t help himself to the top of his master’s shoulder and kiss the back of his neck.

“You’ve never been this excited,” Siau said.

He took the dog off his shoulders and took a few seconds to hold him close to his heart.

On the road again

There were a few people to appreciate before the day was done.

Robert Stout, another Animal Control officer, dropped Rambo off at the shelter. There waere also the dispatch ladies at the Hannibal Police Department and, of course, Ledbetter. Without him, Rambo would have never been found.

Tennessee is the next destination for Siau and Rambo. Siau said he’ll be sure to check to see if Rambo is actually in the truck from now on before leaving.

A lot of stress was collected and a lot of sleep was lost during this weekend’s ordeal. Before heading out the duo laid down in the cab’s back seat and watched some movies before heading south.

Source: http://www.hannibal.net/article/20120606/NEWS/306069877/0/SEARCH