DEADLY PET REUNION

NO GOOD DEED GOES UNPUNISHED--NOT EVEN IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM

6 AUG 2014--NATIONAL--COAST TO COAST

STORY BY LE CAVALIER

#01-004

CONCORD, N.H.--In a grizzly twist of fate, an aging tabby was malled to death by the same dog she

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.

     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!"  

     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."

     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."  

     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."