If Only I Had My Dog Chipped - The Story of Ginger
My dog was taken from Caledonian Road London on 17/07/09 following his lead coming off in Camden Road
. He panicked because of traffic and became semi feral. He was last seen opposite Caledonian Road tube station and a man did say that he saw Ginger with a street drinker. I am desperate to find him as he is a link with my late mother and also he is my family dog. Ginger was relatively new to London. He is a Lakeland mixed breed and would be 3 and a half years old now. His fur is slightly wiry in texture and he has a black muzzle area with dark eyes.
Back in February 2008 I worked as a Housing Officer in London. The job itself was not bad but the ill treatment I received in the office was appalling. Anyway I was planning to move to a different department as I knew things would not change if I did not change my environment. However, what I did have was my beautiful mum and her dog Ginger who lived with her in Norfolk.
I would often think of my mum and Ginger when things were particularly bad for me. My mum would say "just get out of that job because you are worth more". I would always look forward to visiting and often described Ginger as "rippling with happiness". He was my mum's saviour and constant companion. I often would say "how is that Ginger dog of yours?" Her answer was always "Oh he's lovely".
My mum had a Heart attack in 2005 and Ginger's arrival in 2007 really made a difference to her well being! At first he refused to live in the house as he had only been used to living practically outside. My mum had to work really hard to coax him to have his dinner and gradually little by little he would move closer to the back door and eventually inside the kitchen and whole house.
Ginger was devoted to my mum. Even when I gave her a cuddle he thought I might harm her and he would hover around her protecting her every move. Ginger also loved me dearly and one evening I sat in the living room with Ginger on my lap whilst watching telly. Out of the blue I said to my mum "I am Ginger's guardian aren't I?" My mum replied "Oh yes, he is your dog and always will be".
I hated thinking about my mum passing away and would often find comfort in the fact that Ginger brought my mum so much joy and a new lease of life! Ginger was a special dog. We called him Ginger because of his distinctive gingery fur which is slightly wiry in texture. I suppose the dog world would describe him as a red. He is a Lakeland Terrier mixed breed and is short in height with a black mask (mouth area) and dark eyes. He really is a good looking dog and my mum used to laugh at him when he stared in the mirror at his reflection. She would say "Oh doesn't he fancy himself".
In March 09, I was accepted into a new department at work. My mum was over the moon and strangely enough before I even had the chance to tell her that I had a new job, she told me. Her words were "I know you have a new job as your phone rang me at 8.30am this morning and all I could hear was you being interviewed". I could not believe it and I realised that my phone must have been unlocked and by accident dialled my mums number. I was so pleased to be leaving such negative working surroundings. I already felt more at ease just knowing I was getting away from such a restrictive and bullying environment.
It was around this time that one night I had an awful dream. The dream indicated that my mum was going to pass away. I heard a very distinctive Irish lady say "your mother has been found dead" The dream showed me the area by the stairs. The Irish lady was old fashioned with bobbed hair and a stern face. I don't think she meant to scare me but really to inform me.
On the next visit to my mum we rejoiced the fact I was leaving the nasty office but I did tell my mum about the dream. I had too. I did not want to believe it but just could not help warning my mum about falling down the stairs.
I took my mum out shopping for mothers day and told her to pick lots of things she wanted. We had lunch together and it was a memorable day but marred by an inkling feeling that my mum was not well and that it would not be long before she left me for the world of spirit.
When we got home my mum said to me out of the blue "Someone will take Ginger, they will and we will lose him" "Oh mum I said" We must get him chipped".
Again I reminded her to be careful around the stairs!
I started my new job on 6th April 09. I was sleeping better, eating well and just much more relaxed. I could not wait to get to Norfolk at the weekend and really enjoy my time with my mum and Ginger!
That weekend we spoke again of me having Ginger eventually and I again kept saying to my mum "Mind the stairs".
Back in London the following weekend I again had the most peculiar dreams. I woke up early on 19th April 09. I made a cup of tea and then went back to bed. I dreamt of Canal boats and water that froze. I was at one point on a canal boat with a spirit man who played the trumpet. I also walked bare footed and my feet only touched the tip of the sea and I escaped water splashing and sprinkling over me.
I told my mum about the dream and I said "Oh no I hope this does not mean more trouble!" The next day I had the most meaningful conversation with my mum and the conversation ended at around 11pm. My mum said that she felt like she was getting a cold. I heard her sneeze and instructed her to go to bed.
That night I dreamt of my mum being lifted up high in the air and myself and a Japanese women I knew at the time walked behind her. My mum wore a blue coat that she wore to the Doctors when I was worried about her health in 2005. When I woke up I felt like the Japanese women knew all my mum's business! I thought "what if she knows all our personal details etc".
That day at work I felt strange. A work colleague asked about my mum. I said she was fine but something was telling me she was not. When I was washing my hands in the toilets I looked in the mirror and I could see that I resembled in that moment my mum. I was in a strange state of being and when I finally left work at 6pm began to panic that my mum was not answering her mobile of landline.
I did not go straight home but decided to go to a Buddhist meeting as at this point I had an interest in the subject. The meeting was held in the flat of the Japanese Lady whom I saw in my dream. To bide time I went into a shop and looked at left over Easter Eggs. I thought to myself that I would buy one for my mum as I had been too strict with her by not allowing her one for Easter because of the fat content. My mum was only small but I did not want her eating loads of fat because of her heart. However, I think she did sometimes behind my back. (ha ha). The image of my mum came to me really strongly in my minds eye and this was her being young again!
I panicked as I still could not reach her by phone. At the meeting a man was recalling his mother's death and that 21st April 09 was the anniversary of his mother's passing. I immediately panicked and thought to myself "Oh no this is going to be my mum's too. When the meeting finished I called my mum's neighbour who said "Did you not get my message your mum is in the hospital, I think she has had a stroke".
I had not been home, so I did not receive the message. I was given a lift by a man at the meeting to Kings Cross and I boarded a train to Queen Elizabeth hospital in Kings Lynn, Norfolk.
My mum had been found earlier unconscious at the foot of the stairs which was exactly the spot the Irish lady indicated in my dream back in March. Ginger was with her. She was fully clothed and had her bottle of water with her. This indicated that she had not reached her bedroom the night before. I believe she was taken ill just after talking to me at around 11pm. In the hospital it was explained that my mum was dying and it could take up to three days. My mum looked beautiful but could not speak and her green/grey eyes appeared glazed. I kissed her loads and told her I loved her. She passed the next day at around 9.20am before I could reach the hospital. The cause of death was a brain Haemorage. I was devastated.
Everything went into Autopilot and I was responsible for arranging the funeral. Ginger howled and howled and pined for her. I took him to the funeral and he sat on my lap in the church and stood by her grave. The Deacon described Ginger as being my mum's "pride and joy". Ginger and I walked behind the Hurst and others followed including the Japanese lady that was in my dream. She had invited herself to the funeral!
I had to return to London and Ginger was coming with me. The Japanese lady said that it was imperative that I kept him. I knew in my heart that this is what my mum wanted. Ginger was obviously new to London and it must have been a shock to him with all the traffic etc. Before I left Norfolk with Ginger, I had an awful nightmare that Ginger was taken and he did not have a leg to stand on. The dream indicated this. On 17/07/09 the Japanese lady invited me to her flat with Ginger. However, when we got there she refused to let me in because of her cat. We were turned away to walk in the pouring rain. It was very strange as to why she invited me and then refused to let me in her flat. She never said the cat was an issue before. This was beginning of my living nightmare. When we got to Camden Road N7 his lead came off and he just panicked due to traffic and ran and ran. He went semi feral. Some people tried to catch him but it made it worse and he just ran further. This was at 7.40pm and he was last seen at around 8pm opposite the Caledonian tube station.
I have not stopped looking since. I never did get round to getting him chipped and this is making it so much more difficult to find him! One man did say he thinks he saw Ginger being taken by a street drinker but I have no proof of this. He could be anywhere now and it could be that the people who have him are unaware of his true history and the fact that he was taken and not reported found. His picture is on my mum's grave and I pray that I hear news of him soon.
This experience has caused me to lose friends and some people said it was my own fault that he was not chipped. The Japanese lady did not even bother to call me to ask if I found Ginger. I just have to keep looking and see it as part of a bigger picture which is not as easy as it sounds! Loosing Ginger has caused me so much sadness. I also have a disabled brother who I can not bring myself to tell that Ginger is missing. This just breaks my heart. It has been 13 months since Ginger was taken and I wonder how or if he has changed and remembers his life before.
Leila Barkane
Ginger's Owner
Pets Bureau Member
If Only I Had My Dog Chipped - The Story of Ginger
By: Pets Bureau
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