A Spunky Lab Beagle Gets a New Leash on Life

Ginger joined our doggie clan on December 18, 2009. Prior to that, our family included a 15yr old beagle named Max and a 2 1/2yr old labrador retriever named Chewie.



Earlier that same year, we suffered through the loss of our two female dogs, Daisy, a border collie, and Maggie, a cocker spaniel, so our once-crowded nest felt a bit empty.

I should start by mentioning that, when our girls passed, we always intended to get another dog at some point. We're dog people (obviously) and our boy Chewie really needed a playmate. We wanted to wait a while, though, out of respect for our beagle, to avoid placing undue stress on him by introducing a new dog.

Then we heard Ginger's story. And we knew that our plans were about to change.

One day I received a phone call from my sister. She knew of a dog who'd been rescued from a bad situation and was now in need of a home. The dog was a 9-month old female lab beagle and she was as cute as the day was long. Her name was "Boozy". Care to hazard a guess why?

Because the dog's owner was a college student who fed her alcohol.

Hearing that made me sick to my stomach. I know there are some people who think that the idea of a "drunk dog" is funny, but I'm not one of them. And the negligence didn't end there. The dog had worms and had never been vaccinated, spade, or even seen by a vet. She was kept crated or left outside tied to a post for long periods, even in the freezing cold. It was at that point that a neighbor reported the owner for animal abuse and someone intervened and removed the dog from the home. The owner was glad to see the dog go and never wanted her to begin with. Big shock there.

Our hearts went out to this little dog. I realize there are plenty of animals whose circumstances are much worse than this, but this story is one of the worst we've been confronted with personally. Who knowingly gives a dog alcohol? I swear, as long as I live, I'll never understand how some people can be so selfish and unfeeling. If you don't want an animal, find a better home or take it to a shelter. It's that simple. Why keep a dog and then proceed to treat it like sh**?

Photo courtesy of hisks.

I admit that, before hearing Ginger's story, I'd never heard of anyone giving their dog alcohol. Maybe I don't get out enough, but the idea seems preposterous to me. I don't give my dogs chocolate or chicken bones or a host of other things that I know are harmful; why in the hell would I give them alcohol. Yet obviously there are those who do it.

Sensible people understand that alcohol has a negative effect on the body, regardless of who ingests it. As adults, most of us drink in moderation, if only to avoid the nasty effects of a killer hangover.

Knowing this, why would anyone think it's okay to give alcohol to their pets? Out of ignorance? For fun?

Seriously, if you take a second to plug "the effect of alcohol on dogs" into Google, you'll be bombarded with pages upon pages of advice on why it's not a good idea. Disorientation, difficulty walking, vomiting, seizures, possibly death ... these are just a few of the problems that alcohol causes in dogs. And it doesn't take a lot of it either. In fact, "drunk ice" and even residue on an empty drinking glass is enough to cause problems.

So, please, be sensible about what you give your dog. I believe that most people are, and those who aren't ... well, you know who you are. Knock it off. Treat your dog right or give it to someone who will!

Considering Ginger's history, we really thought she'd show some evidence of emotional distress or lasting effects from the alcohol exposure. Fortunately, there were none. In fact, she seemed to be remarkably well-adjusted. Even her foster family was surprised by how well she was doing.

No, the only issues she seemed to have were the behavioral problems of puppyhood. It wasn't long before we could tell that this dog was definitely in need of some behavior training. She jumped, she nipped, she chewed, she barked uncontrollably ... in short, Ginger was a real handful. Fortunately, she did get the hang of the housetraining fairly quickly (thank God!)

A few months have passed now and Ginger's still as rotten and ornery as ever, but she's so charming that I find it hard to get upset with her. Sure, we still catch her prancing around with a forbidden treasure in her mouth or find evidence of a chewed up toy that she's claimed as a "Ginger snack". But, as I keep reminding my husband, she's a puppy; it's kind of par for the course.

Aside from that, she reminds me of a mouthy child. You correct her and she actually has the nerve to make a nipping gesture at you. If she could talk, I can just imagine her saying, "Yeah, whatever Mom." Still, despite these missteps, she's slowly learning how to behave. For now, as you can see in the photo, she has a "time-out spot" that she visits whenever she gets too out of control and needs to settle down.

We have honestly never had a dog like Ginger before. She's probably the naughtiest dog we've ever had. It's funny because I never use that word, but, in her case, it fits. Naughty ... but very affectionate, very cuddly, and totally and completely lovable.

All I can say is that it's a good thing she's so cute!