The best worst dog

As the months passed, it became clear that Ginger hated most living things in life. People, other animals, even some trees. The phrase, "It's a good thing you're cute," was a repeated mantra in my house, mostly uttered by my mother after Ginger had done something atrocious. Her crimes varied - snarling at my brother, eating mud in the backyard and promptly throwing up in the living room, treeing the neighbourhood cat. The decision to adopt her marked a new chapter in my family's life. We had said goodbye to my childhood dogs a few years prior, and it was time for fresh life in the house. Life was indeed present, as Ginger embodied the personality of three dogs. She was loud, sassy, and somehow opinionated. But, she was also incredibly intelligent and desperate for love. We didn't know a lot about her past, only a few face scars to piece together what could have happened to her. She had been found on the side of the road by a family up north and advertised 'free to a good home' online. We drove up, sight unseen, and picked up a little, frightened orange puppy with the most beautiful green eyes (cue, "its a good thing you're cute"). That little pup soon showed us how things were going to be in the house from now on. She loved us intensely, but it became more and more clear that love was not intended for others. The emotional scars of her past came through when meeting other dogs. She gave quite the 'welcome' when my friends visited. Her looks drew in her prey, until it was too late. Well, nothing too dramatic ever happened. A few snaps in the air when an outsider would get too close. Or just an immense amount of obnoxious barking. Unlike our childhood dogs, who were two big bundles of love, Ginger needed all the love she could get. We no longer had a dog to fulfill our own want for companionship; we had to fill the needs and patch the wounds of this dog. Ginger showed her appreciation for that love everyday, even on the bad days. She was grateful for shelter and regular meals, though to look at her behaviour when the food came out, you would think she hadn't eaten in days. Cue, "we promise, we're not starving her". There will never be a dog quite like Ginger, and maybe for the peace of the world, that's a good thing.