09/19/97

Lady Ginger

The following is a remembrance of Lady Ginger Brandy of Winfield, a purebred Golden Retriever, as told to me by her master, Richard.  Ginger died recently at twelve and a half years old.

"The most humbling fact about a dog's devotion is its unconditional love for its master and family, and Ginger was utterly devoted to us.  The best of all possible companions, she had a temperament so forgiving, loyal and cheerful, as to transcend the animal world's reputation for being "inarticulate."  And she was beautiful to behold, in motion, at rest, or at play.  Her coat was truly the color of ginger and she was the envy of all who knew her.

We knew when she wanted to go out the door with us by her smile and sudden perking up, her eyes gleaming and ears raised, tongue slightly extended over her smiling teeth.  She bounded into the car, whenever we offered to take her along, before her arthritis required our help with a lift into the car by the hindquarters.

She loved the long walks in the woods behind the house, where she loped along, always within earshot, never straying too far, even when she came upon the scent of a woodchuck or other woodlot denizen.  Her running, when she was younger, was a joy to watch, and is frozen in my memory, as are the piles of snow she loved to romp over as she wrestled with my two young sons.  She also loved to pull the old work gloves from my hands, when the signal was given, and to charge her playmate, leaping and spinning, able to knock me down if I didn't sidestep.

Her pace and activity slowed in those last years, but her obvious love of play and long walks in the woods, especially early on Sunday mornings, never declined.

She came to us via friends who bred and owned several Golden Retrievers.  We wanted a replacement puppy for our son Jonathan, who'd been bitten in the face by a Malamute.  Ginger more than made up for Jon's trauma with another dog.  He never feared dogs, thanks to Ginger.

But she really became my dog over the years.  I like to think that she conferred upon me, rather than anyone else in the family, the bond of master and companion, a privilege not accorded to all mere humans.

After the vet administered the euthansia shot and Ginger drifted slowly into a deep sleep, as we held her there on the lawn in front of the veterinary office, Dr. Lea gave us each a hug and said, "She's dreaming -- she's running now."  May she rest easy on the hill, where she loved to run, through all the changing seasons.  She was more faithful than we or anyone ever deserved." 

Beth's note:  A family pet can be as important to our emotional lives as human friends are.  There are dogs like Ginger, trained as "pet therapists," who gently draw people from coma to consciousness or spur rehabilitation progress after an illness or accident.  Some animals seem to have a sixth sense, which they use to protect their masters from danger. 

Please send questions or comments to bbruno@snet.net.