Do you have little children?  Do you want them to have a dog but you are nervous about how the dog will handle it?  Well then, my friend, have I got a dog for you!  Let me introduce you to Ginger, a lovely, gentle hound.  So sweet.  So pretty.  And rarely barks.  What!?! A hound who doesn't bark?  Hard to believe, huh?  Yup, Ginger is a pretty exceptional dog all around!

So why would a wonderful dog like this be looking for a home?  Sadly, Ginger's family is going through a divorce and she is the odd dog out.  Heartbreaking isn't it....  The good news it that her family loves her very much and has provided us with quite a bit of information about her.  Here we go:

"She is  a VERY friendly, sweet and fantastic with young kids, pets and she loves to run.  Ginger is about 3 years old.  She needs a fenced yard, which sadly we have not had and will not have.  She is a little sad about that.  She was a rescue from the local vet.  She was there for 6 months.  She was used as a blood donor.  She is a hound mix and very sweet.  She rarely barks.  I do know she will run, so she needs a fenced yard.  She loves the dog park.
She does hide a lot, so I am not sure how her life was before, but as I said she is very friendly and loves the family.  My daughter is 2 and is always playing with her.  She is about 40 pounds. "

Are you as impressed by this dog as I am?  I hope so!  Oh, if you are freaked by the blood donor thing, don't be.  It is very routine for a vet to have a dog on hand to provide blood in the event of an emergency.  As you can imagine, it takes a very special dog to provide such a service.  And that is exactly what Ginger is ~ very special!!!!

5/14 Update:
I just received the coolest e-mail from someone.  She saw Ginger, who had posted as a Coonhound/Pointer mix.  Check out her insights: "The dog (Ginger) that you have listed as a coonhound/pointer mix is actually a Lemon Beagle. Lemons are only two-color beagles (no black). And, Ginger has the distinct features of a Lemon – especially the white band on her face. As you know I have two lemons. I think she may have a better chance at adoption if she were “typed” correctly since coonhounds and pointers tend to be larger and higher energy dogs.  And, as a Lemon, she is a pure breed which appeals to some people. I just wanted to pass this on to you for Ginger’s sake. "

According to www.dogbreedinfo.com, the Treeing Walker is a descendant of the English Foxhound, which Thomas Walker imported to Virginia in 1742. Sometime in the 1800's, a dog known as "Tennessee Lead," a stolen dog of unknown origin, was crossed into the Walker Hound. He was a powerful dog, excelling in game sense, drive and speed, and having a clear, short-chop mouth. The Treeing Walker was not recognized as its own breed until 1946. This direct lineage brings us this efficient hunter. This coonhound has retained the looks of its ancestors, the English Foxhound. An underlying sense of game coupled with untiring speed and manly drive makes this coonhound unstoppable. The coonhound lineage doesn't really stop at the Walker, for American hunters also employ other varieties as well. One such coonhound is known as the Running Walker. The Treeing Walker Coonhound is an efficient and reliable hunter of raccoons, squirrels, and possums. The Treeing Walker "trees" its prey, and can then sometimes virtually climb the tree to get at it. With a little training, however, it will merely bay its distinctive howl, telling the hunter that the prey has been cornered. The Treeing Coonhound is good with children and gets along with other dogs. Training is accomplished with little trouble, as these dogs are able to learn from example. They are primarily working and hunting dogs but will also make a great companion dog. Working, to the Treeing Walker Coonhound, is not work but a sport and diversion. They thrive