Parents surprise shelter volunteer daughter by adopting her favorite dog

Hallee Fuqua asked her parents several times if she could adopt a dog, and the answer was always the same: Not until you graduate from college.

The Oklahoma State University sophomore still has some time to go, so she decided to start volunteering at the Humane Society of Stillwater. Fuqua quickly forged a bond with Rambo, a 2-year-old Plott hound mix. She took him for walks and let all 70 pounds of him sit on her lap. Fuqua often sent her parents, Jessica and Lance, photos of Rambo, and Jessica said there was something about Rambo that was irresistible, and they decided to make him a part of the family.

Lance worked with the Humane Society's director, Jackie Ross-Guerrero, to pull off a surprise adoption. Fuqua did find out that Rambo had been adopted — although she had no idea it was by her family — and was upset, thinking she would never see him again. About a week before Christmas, her father greeted her at their front door with Rambo and let her in on the secret: They were the ones who had adopted her favorite dog. The family has been busy in the days since, creating a fundraiser for the Humane Society of Stillwater and helping Rambo adjust to his new life. "He's ruling the house right now," Lance told the Stillwater News Press. "He's definitely entered his domain." Catherine Garcia

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