Gee-Jo's story…
Just before Labor Day, UMR got a call
from Anita of the Southern Maryland Animal League (SMAL) in St. Mary’s County. She
had just come from the shelter where she’d seen a tiny, elderly Maltese boy – a
stray – who was to be euthanized the next day. Anita was willing to take him home and
get him to the groomer and vet if we could come down and get him and find him the perfect
home. All three of us drove down to get this little old man on Labor Day weekend. Poor
little guy had a mouth full of infection from no dental care, had been shaved to the skin
because he was so matted, and was really not sure what was happening to him. Since he was
a stray, he had no name. We decided on Gee-Jo. No one knew exactly how old Gee-Jo was, but
the vet felt he was somewhere between 10 and 12. Poor Gee-Jo lost most of his teeth when
our vet did his dental work, but once the infection was out of his mouth and he got some
good food into him, he began to perk up and even started playing with the other dogs in
the house. Gee-Jo was in foster care for quite a long time because most people feel a
10-year-old dog is "old," even though Maltese often live to be 16 to 18 years
old. But Gee-Jo’s age didn’t deter Peny and Vynnie. They saw his photo on our
web site and contacted us saying they could give our boy all the love and care he needed.
We took Gee-Jo with us when we did the home visit for Peny and Vynnie, and it was clear
within the first half-hour that he was finally home.
Gee-Jo / Eddie’s New
Beginning (as reported by Peny and Vynnie)
On October 20, 2001, Cathy Brown, Barbara
Fine, and Gee-Jo made the trip from Western Maryland to the tiny town of North East, MD to
meet Peny and Vynny and their two Maltese – Hamish and Natalie. Gee-Jo seemed a bit
nervous at first, but he soon began exploring. While everyone sat around talking he
checked out what would become his new home.
Vynny decided that "Eddie" was
a good name for the little guy, and he seems to like it. Eddie spent his first couple of
days getting adjusted to his new surroundings. He picked up on the concept of the
"doggy door" immediately and went in and out dozens of times – just because
he could. Eddie also learned how to go up and down stairs. Barbara, his foster mom, had
said he wouldn’t try to go upstairs in her home but it might have been because she
has hardwood floors. She was absolutely right. With carpeted stairs Eddie zooms up and
down without a problem.
His appetite picked up quickly. Within a
week or so he not only ate his regular dog food, but lots of dog treats as well. Milk
Bones and other crunchy treats need to be broken up for him since most of his teeth had to
be pulled, but he thoroughly enjoys them. He gets so excited when the treats come out that
he stands up on his back legs and barks.
In a month’s time Eddie has gone
from shy, little waif to demanding royalty. He definitely lets you know when you
aren’t moving fast enough to please him. The most important thing is that Eddie seems
to be a happy little boy. Words can’t describe how wonderful it was to see him wag
his tail for the first time. He has been a perfect addition to his new family and is loved
very much.
Eddie has his own web page with movies of
his milestones. Visit www.dogvoodoo.com/eddie
to see his adventures.
