SPANISH FORK — Ginger is quite a sight, playing Frisbee in the park while strapped to a wheelchair powered by her short, hairy front legs.
Those who know her best, though, say she's an inspiration for anyone facing physical challenges.
Ginger, you see, is an Australian cattle dog that lost the use of her hind quarters in a freak accident last year. Bob Reid, the dog's new owner, said the red heeler went for a pass while playing Frisbee and landed on a slab of concrete.
Ginger's previous owners wanted to put her to sleep after the accident. A Hurricane animal hospital and an elementary school teacher in nearby St. George asked to try to keep the dog alive, however.
"She was very intelligent and a very loving animal and didn't seem to be in pain. She didn't seem ready to die," said Dan Williams, the veterinarian who received permission from the owners to keep the dog.
"Some people who saw her were horrified that she was kept alive," he said, "but others were inspired."
Children in Sherri Sundberg's first grade class at Dixie Downs Elementary School adopted the animal, raised money and collected dog food.
Ginger also was featured in a Christmas program at a rest home where she livened up the lives of many elderly there, the teacher said.
"She touched so many people's lives," said Sundberg, who vowed to find the dog a good home. "I think if people had more pets, they would learn compassion and caring."
She turned to the news media to spread the story about Ginger's recovery. And last spring, Reid was one of the people who heard about the dog's plight in a television news story.
"I thought she would be good for rehabilitation patients — people getting used to a disability," said Reid, who runs Animal Therapeutics Unlimited, a nonprofit service group that uses animals to help disabled folks cope with their challenges.
Ginger can drag her body around with her strong front legs — but she does much better when Reid straps her into a cart designed for dogs that can't move their back limbs.
"She'll (play Frisbee) all day," he said. "She never gets tired."
Reid oversees nine volunteer teams that visit about 250 people a week, he said. He owns four certified and insured therapy dogs, including Ginger.
All of Reid's dogs were adopted from shelters.
The dogs are trained to pull wheel chairs, pick up dropped items and open doors. They spend a lot of time in the rehabilitation units of hospitals and nursing homes.
"I learned to do this from my own disease," Reid said. Diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, Reid found he could train dogs to help him. Then, he started helping others. His services are promoted through word of mouth.
"I'm not able to keep up on the demand," he said.
Grants and donations finance the organization, and Reid doesn't spend any time fund-raising.
"I've never asked for a donation," he said.
Of course, he won't turn them down, either.
"I don't make money an issue," Reid said, "because then people who need the service get bypassed."
E-mail: rodger@desnews.com