Revised July 4, 1997

GINGER was truly one of the most gorgeous dogs we have ever rescued. His picture is beautiful, but it honestly does not do him justice. He simply took my breath away when I first saw him -- with his huge, heartwarming eyes and his thick, glossy, dark red hair. He was a big, strong boy with a soul of an angel, if such a thing can be true for an animal.

It was amazing to us that Ginger had survived the abuse he formerly endured. He had been the victim of horrible beatings and deprivation. He didn't look so good when we first got him, but in time, he blossomed -- physically and temperamentally. He was simply a lovely animal. 

Ginger was adopted by a special lady who lives in College Park, Maryland. This same lady also adopted another needy Cocker from us. Her name is Duchess. She and Ginger made quite a pair. They didn't come to the Rescue together, but they bonded quickly and lived happily in their new home. We hoped to include Ginger with Duchess on her Happy Endings page. It was not to be.

We recently learned that Ginger had to be euthanized because of severe deterioration in his back, caused by repeated trauma at some time in his life. We always knew he had a bad back because of the abuse he endured, but he bore up like such a champ, no one fully realized how badly he was suffering. His adoptive mother did, and she tried all she could to help him get well and to ease his pain.

For awhile, Ginger improved. He relished the affection lavished on him in his new home. But love couldn't cure a broken back and, in a relatively short time, his condition worsened, and he was in constant, terrible pain. The only loving thing to do was to release him, which his mother finally did. Ginger's death leaves us all the poorer, for he had a pure spirit that enriched the lives he touched. He honestly knew how to forgive, and he was willing to love and trust again, after a lifetime of hardship. Many people could learn a powerful lesson from this dog's story.