When Ginger, an abandoned dog, arrived at Dogwood Animal Shelter in Missouri, she hoped to find a new home quickly, just like any other dog. However, the scars from her past made it difficult for her to trust people. This meant finding a forever home would be harder than she had imagined.
Ginger struggled with anxiety and had trouble trusting humans. As a result, no one wanted to give her the patience and love she desperately needed. All she could do was wait and hope that one day, her situation would change. Unfortunately, that day seemed very far away.
Life at the Shelter
Ginger arrived at the shelter in 2013. For the next seven years, she patiently waited, hoping someone would notice her sweet face and kind heart. However, potential adopters continuously passed her by, failing to see the loving dog she truly was.
As time went by, Ginger aged. Her once youthful appearance changed, with her chocolate fur turning white and gray. Despite these changes, her life at the shelter remained the same. The years spent behind kennel bars slowly drained her hope of ever finding a family of her own.
A Ray of Hope
In 2020, everything began to change for Ginger. Scott Poore, a shelter pet advocate from Mission Driven, heard about her long wait and difficult situation. He decided to take action to change the fate of this adorable pup. “It absolutely broke my heart, so I stopped what I was doing and dedicated all of my time to her. I started telling her story to anyone that would listen,” Poore told The Dodo.
Source: @keepingup_withginger
Thanks to Poore’s efforts, Ginger’s kennel finally started to attract visitors. One of these visitors was Beth, who decided that Ginger deserved to live out the rest of her years in the best way possible.
A New Beginning
When Ginger went home with Beth, she experienced a complete transformation. The hope she had lost during her years at the shelter was restored. Ginger came out of her shell and showed everyone that she still had the energy and spirit of a puppy.
Beth shared with The Dodo, “100 percent, there was a transformation. She was very skittish and protective at first. Now she will walk into a new environment with her head held high. Seeing her jump on a bed or walk on floors and be able to be a dog was amazing to see. She’s not this fragile shelter dog anymore. She knows her name and she stands bold with it.”
For some dogs, life takes a bit longer to begin. For Ginger, her true life started when she was ten years old.
Ginger’s New Life
Ginger, now 13 years old, faces some health issues but continues to love life and enjoys every passing day. Her adoption not only changed her life but also significantly impacted Beth’s life. Before Ginger came into her life, Beth was an anxious young adult trying to find her way. Now, Beth is married, a homeowner, and has a successful career.
Beth reflected on their journey together, saying, “Ginger and I have definitely grown together. I feel like when I got her, we were both kids entering adulthood together. I think the most important thing Ginger taught me is that it’s okay to start over … that no matter what life gives you, there’s a better tomorrow — you can’t grow in the same place that broke you. We are thriving together now.”
The Bigger Picture
Ginger’s story is just one of many. Countless dogs spend most of their lives in shelters, waiting for someone to see their true potential and offer them a loving home. Beth hopes that more people will be inspired by Ginger’s story to adopt long-term shelter animals and give them a second chance at happiness.
“I want to challenge more people to adopt the ‘unadoptable’ or long-term animal and give them a second chance to love and live,” Beth concluded.
A Call to Action
If Ginger’s story has touched your heart, consider visiting your local shelter. You might just find a wonderful companion waiting for you. By offering a shelter dog a home, you can bring a smile to their face and give them a life worth living. You could be the person to transform a dog’s life, just like Beth did for Ginger.
Together, we can make a difference, one adoption at a time.
