Ralphy says, “Cheese, Please”
Pet's Name: Ralphy
Age: 4
Breed: Maltese
Gender: Male
Family member names: Vivienne, Charlotte, and Bella are the pet siblings. Chloe and I are the human family members.
Where and why did you get Ralphy?
Ralphy needed a mommy, and he was very afraid of humans. I'm not sure why. He seemed more scared of men than of women. Later, I found out he had severe ear pain and was afraid of someone touching his ears.
What is the story behind Ralphy's name?
His previous mommy named him Ralphy, and I just kept the name.
Anything special or unusual about Ralphy? Ralphy is deaf. He was born with cystic blocked ear canals, which were infected all the time. Getting medicine into the ear canal to treat the infections was impossible. He was in a lot of pain and had itching all the time. He had to undergo a total ear canal ablation, where the entire ear canal is removed, and the ear no longer has any opening. The surgery is done one ear at a time and usually results in some facial nerve paralysis, which means Ralphy cannot blink. He is a lot more comfortable after the procedure.
What do you like best about Ralphy?
I love his funny personality. He loves to be loved, but only for a little bit. When he is tired of getting petted and loved on, he wants to sit at a little distance from his humans. His bark is loud and screechy because he cannot hear it. He also makes a funny noise that sounds like a human mumbling.
Any funny stories?
When we pick him up, he puts his front legs straight out like an airplane's wings. He is a mommy's boy.
How spoiled is Ralphy?
Ralphy is very spoiled. He gets special fancy cheese for treats, which started when we had to make him take his pills for his ears–the cheese made him happy, so I kept buying it.
When is your Ralphy's birthday?
May 2, 2022
Is Ralphy involved in any family traditions or holidays? He has sweaters for every occasion and a special necktie.
How has Ralphy enriched your life? Ralphy has made me aware of how lucky he is that I was able to get his ears taken care of. I am sad when I think of all the dogs out there that are in pain or don't have warmth, shelter, and love. I've never had a dog that had any health issues or problems, as he has with his hearing.
What else should we know about Ralphy? He likes ice cream, and he loves spending time away from his sisters and having mommy all to himself.