By Rick Stiebel
News Gazette staff
Mar 16 2005

It's the end of a leash or the end of the line for Jo Jo.
The 16-year-old Airedale terrier owned by Langford resident Ray Janney was seized by a Capital Regional District bylaw enforcement officer Feb. 22 after a biting incident.
Jo Jo is a well-known fixture in Langford, often seen running along behind Janney on his bicycle.
But chief CRD bylaw officer Don Brown said there have been numerous complaints of the dog biting people dating back to July 2002, including nipping a CRD bylaw enforcement officer.
After meeting with Janney, Brown decided to release the dog, providing Janney buys a license and keeps Jo Jo muzzled and leashed in public.
The decision comes after the kennel master at the CRD animal shelter at Elk Lake determined the dog is almost completely blind and deaf, which may have contributed to the biting incidents.
If Janney doesn't abide by the conditions resulting in another complaint, the dog would have to be destroyed, Brown said.
"It was tough decision," Brown said. "She's a cute little dog, everybody knows her."
The CRD considered three options, Brown said, including putting the dog down, retraining it, or releasing it to the owner under strict conditions.
While Brown sympathizes with Janney's attachment to the dog, Brown said retraining a dog Jo Jo's age would be difficult.
"I'm very happy and relieved by the decision," said Janney, adding that he would abide by all of the conditions.
"She's been my best friend for 16 years . . . I sure don't want to lose her."
Janney is prepared to abide by whatever restrictions the CRD has imposes, adding that it's not the dog's fault because the responsibility falls on the owner.
"She's in her retirement years," he said. "I just want her to spend her last years at home with me."