Brewster & Ginger

Dear SEVA GRREAT,

Each time our family receives the GRREAT Times newsletter, I always enjoy hearing the stories about owners and their wonderful relationships with their Golden. After each issue I promise myself that I will submit my own story to share with you because my relationship with Golden Retrievers is from a different perspective - for I am a Cairn Terrier named Brewster.

For many years I was an "only child" dog. My family consisted of my owners (Randy and Irving) and Sarah (now age 19) and Mark (now age 16). I have been with them for all of my eleven years. My family has always loved me but with everyone gone all day I often felt lonely and sad.

When Mark was ten years old he asked for a second dog. He wanted a BIG dog. His PE teacher at school, Alice Meredith, an active member of SEVA GRREAT, convinced Mark of the "specialness" of Goldens. Alice explained the program to Mark's parents and they agreed to be foster parents - but with one major rule - if Brewster was unhappy, the dog had to leave!

One Sunday afternoon Alice showed up at our house with the most beautiful dog I have ever seen - Ginger! Everyone watched and waited as Ginger was introduced to me.

It was love at first sight! We ALL fell in love with Ginger, and within five minutes knew that we had to adopt her.

During our eight years with Ginger, she has brought so much to all of us. She loves people and has a wonderful way of "connecting" with everyone.

But for me, as a Cairn Terrier, Ginger has taught me so much. We love to play and yet Ginger knows when "enough is enough." She has been known to protect me if another dog even looks angrily at me (which is nice for someone as short as me). Most of all my owners are so happy that I have developed more of a Golden attitude and temperament than a terrier, although I still can get "yappy" (especially in a thunderstorm, which really irritates Ginger).

I felt I had to add my own perspective and love for Goldens. Our Golden Retriever has definitely added to all of our lives, but Ginger has especially enriched my life.

Brewster