They wound up just feeding and watering him, year after year, until finally, he joined his beloved master.
No one puts flowers on the man's grave any more but Rollo *always* has at least a single rose placed lovingly beside him.
His head is worn smooth from all the visitors who "pat the faithful dog".
Semper Fidelis, indeed.
I saw that in the Rose Hill Cem in Hagerstown! (I’m a graveyard nut; www.cpmbs.org)