This is an older picture of old dog when she was young and full of mischief. Our BabyDog is dying. Ginger has cirrhosis of the liver. She isn't responding to treatment because it is likely the aliment of the liver is do to cancer. We have only a few weeks left, if that, with our girl. I am not sure how we will go on with out Gingy hugs. We will of course but how can the Dot understand all this. Do dogs really understand the loss. I know they feel it. Ginger taught me that. In a strange way Ginger becoming ill has resurfaced a little bit of the small raw spot left when we grieved the loss of Fawn. Ginger was the dog we got for us and Fawn when she had cancer the 2nd time. I am so glad the vet insisted we get her a playmate. She has lived for 10-11 wonderful years with us and Ginger has been through so much with us. Every dog, just like any human or animal family member, is unique and irreplaceable. There will forever be a Bat-Ears size hole in my heart when she leaves us. She has helped train Firecracker and DotDog but i think Della was too much for her. She hated her at first, now i think she has a "i give up on her" attitude. Poor Dell tries so hard to get Ginger to like her. As Ging has become ill, Dell is even looking out for her. Perhaps just like humans, the more the personalities are alike, the harder they have to work to get along. So far Della still hasn't eaten more shoes than Ginger, but the pup is still fairly young! She sure has Ginger's tail! I am just glad she isn't as tall. There were clues to how old she has been getting on us but other than one hard cry with my husband a couple of years ago i refused to see. I guess i should have realized when Maggie Cat came home that she is very elderly. For a dog that loves cats as much as she does not to take to Mags should have been one of many clues to just how old our BabyDog is now. She has had some dear friends over the years, Eightball and Stinky were her cats in her youth. As much affection as she still shows Meg's cat Dash and ole Lenny (that now belongs to Mom), they are really Dot's cats the way Stinky was hers. The hips failing was hard not to see. That was one of the reasons we have been in Dr V.M.'s office this past year. She sure loves the Doc. Ginger has never given me any trouble going ever since the Doc fixed her ears up. I watch her now and as she lays there you can see she is hurting. Just a few hours ago when she was up she was trying to snuzzel up to me in the bedroom and later acting silly in the kitchen. She was trying to play 2 days ago with Eddie. I don't know when to cry "uncle" for her sake. Ging seams to be fighting this so hard spiritually but her body has already won. I asked Dr V.M. the when question. She promised me Ginger would let us know. I just hope she does. i am praying that God will grant her perfect healing. As much as i am going to miss our BabyGirl, i want her horsing around again with FawnDog, Copper, and Freckles where we know they aren't hurting any more.