Ginger in Marina del Rey

January 26, 2021

Ginger was a companion for the primary dog of a friend. While visiting in 2016, Ginger would curl up next to my feet whenever I sat down. Though I was only visiting for five days, we bonded. Returning home I missed Ginger and asked my friend if she would let me have her. After taking several months to process giving up Ginger I was told that I could come get her. Though I had been suffering from PTSD for some time, I had no idea what a comfort Ginger could be in moments of severe depression. Though she loves people our bond is so strong there is only one other person she will even let hold her lease. Her native instinct to comfort me and her unwillingness to be away from me prompted me to prepare her to operate as a PTSD service dog. After a year, it continues to be a challenge to balance allowing her the freedom she needs for exercise and play with the discipline to be a well-behaved service dog, in public spaces more because of her intellectual curiosity than anything else. She is an instinctive guard dog and protects me from people with “bad” energy and the unsolicited intentions of other dogs. All in all, we are a great team.