Rambo “Bo-Bo” Augustus Dotson Jones Jan. 1, 1996 – April 21, 2003
Rambo Jones was put to sleep yesterday at 5:15 p.m. at Springhill Veterinary Clinic by injection. Rambo lived a full 7-plus years of life, becoming a member of the Jones household when he was four months old on April 15, 1996. He was a purebred Chow-Chow, and as such bonded to one person, his adopter Laureen Jones. He was rambunctious as a puppy, but steps were taken by Laureen and her husband Kevin to “de-aggress” him. These steps included neutering him at a young age (the surgery had to be postponed due to an anemic condition discovered in his bloodwork), and also sending him to obedience school. Rambo received his obedience certificate from K-9 university in 1999 after 4 weeks of intensive training, plus many followup practica with other fellow students.
While Rambo was aggressive, when he was at home, he was often peaceful, loving, and always vigilant. He enjoyed barking at intruders in his line of vision, such as the neighborhood cat Bubba. His owners took great care to not allow him around unfamiliar people, but even that didn’t preclude a series of bites to family members. The final bite occurred on April 9th, 2003, when Kevin was bitten four times in the right leg. A period of in-home quarantine commenced after that. Much soul-searching was done by Kevin and Laureen to determine what options were available, but what drove the decision home was Title II section 22.19 of Garland’s Codes and Ordinances. This section defines what a dangerous animal is, and Rambo unfortunately fit the bill. Later sections of the same code prohibit sale, transfer, giving away, or any other mechanism of removal from the household. As Rambo was considered just too much of a threat to other people, including any future family members, being put to sleep was the only option available.
Both Laureen and Kevin were present at the office when the procedure was performed. Rambo is survived by his adopted sister Chewie along with his owners Kevin and Laureen. It is hoped by those who came into contact with Rambo will remember him for his good qualities instead of those that led to his demise. It may be a bit much for an animal, but since this was the first real pet for both Laureen and Kevin–the first animal for whom they had complete care–it hurts a bit more than it might.
Love your pets while you can. You never know what may happen to you or them.