NO GOOD DEED GOES UNPUNISHED--NOT EVEN IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM
6 AUG 2014--NATIONAL--COAST TO COAST
STORY BY LE CAVALIER
#01-004
played sarrogate mother to a few years before when the canine was only a pup.
Yolanda Matthison, owner of Gigi the tabby, thought it would be a great idea to have her son,
Jared, bring over Mr. Nelson, his Great Dane, whom Gigi had milked and cared for along with the
rest of her litter two-years prior. "A few years back, my son [Jared] was in town on business," she
recalled, "He contacted me and told me he'd found a small puppy near a dumpster just crying for his
mama. Knowing how I love animals, he knew I'd take it in." She added, "Poor thing was still on the
milk." Gigi had just given birth to five kittens, so Yolanda figured she'd try a little experiment.
Jared, bring over Mr. Nelson, his Great Dane, whom Gigi had milked and cared for along with the
rest of her litter two-years prior. "A few years back, my son [Jared] was in town on business," she
recalled, "He contacted me and told me he'd found a small puppy near a dumpster just crying for his
mama. Knowing how I love animals, he knew I'd take it in." She added, "Poor thing was still on the
milk." Gigi had just given birth to five kittens, so Yolanda figured she'd try a little experiment.
Placing the puppy in the basket with the other kittens Yolanda hoped Gigi would adopt him. Sure
enough, Gigi began caring for the dog just as if it was one of her own. Once Mr. Nelson was weaned,
Jared returned and took the dog to live with he and his son in Windsor County, Vermont.
After watching a nature show on PBS depicting animal odd couples, Yolanda came up with the
idea of a reunion. She immediately shared it with Jared. "When my mom called and told me what
she had planned, I was reluctant...I didnt think she really understood how big Mr. Nelson had gotten,
I mean, he's a Great Dane!"
idea of a reunion. She immediately shared it with Jared. "When my mom called and told me what
she had planned, I was reluctant...I didnt think she really understood how big Mr. Nelson had gotten,
I mean, he's a Great Dane!"
Not wanting to dissappoint his mother, Jared decided to go through with it. "I figured there had to
be some kind of maternal connection between the two that would prevent the worse from happening.
Besides, Nelson's a good dog, he's never shown any aggression towards anything, he's just a big
goofy dog." Yolanda was taken back by his size, "He was big as a horse!" Admittingly, she had
second thoughts, but her son had already taken the long trip so she was committed. "When I
went to get Gigi, it felt like I was walking her down the 'green-mile'--like an executioner."
went to get Gigi, it felt like I was walking her down the 'green-mile'--like an executioner."
Everything was fine in the beginning. There were a few growls and light hissing but nothing for
them to get excited about. The two owners began to relax and enjoy the moment. "It was just
like on the PBS show," Yolanda observed, "They were pawing and frolicking. That big
dog turned into the puppy I always remembered. It was a beautiful sight to see!"
But things turned ugly when she decided to give Mr. Nelson a head rub. Reaching in, she
accidentally stepped on Gigi's tail sending the cat reeling in pain towards the dog. "Gigi latched onto
Nelson's muzzle," Jared remembers, "She dug into him with those claws something awful!" Mr.
Nelson reacted with deadly results. Yolanda tearfully relived the moment, "He clamped down on her
and began to shake her up like a rag doll." Jared reached in to free her, but he was bitten. Falling
back, he and his mother could only watch as the once orphaned dog shook the life out of the
very cat that preserved his. Jared recalled, "When Gigi finally stopped moving, Mr. Nelson just
dropped her to the floor and walked over to mama for that head rub."
very cat that preserved his. Jared recalled, "When Gigi finally stopped moving, Mr. Nelson just
dropped her to the floor and walked over to mama for that head rub."
Animal contol officers were called and declared Gigi dead at the scene. After a cursory
behavioral check they determined the incident was an isolated occurrence. Jared was allowed
to retain custody Mr. Nelson. "I'm going to sue PBS," declared Yolanda, "My Gigi would
still be alive today if they hadn't made it seem so easy." Jared assured us he'd take care of
Gigi's final arrangements, "She'll get full honors and a queen's burial in mama's backyard."
behavioral check they determined the incident was an isolated occurrence. Jared was allowed
to retain custody Mr. Nelson. "I'm going to sue PBS," declared Yolanda, "My Gigi would
still be alive today if they hadn't made it seem so easy." Jared assured us he'd take care of
Gigi's final arrangements, "She'll get full honors and a queen's burial in mama's backyard."