Dogs have been Ginny's children (and life, practically) for more than 30 years.
She and husband Don didn't have children together, so Ginny started adopting dogs that needed good homes. She usually has two at any given time, all from shelters. She's also active in Dog Gone Seattle, a foster-based rescue group that saves countless dogs from euthanasia and prepares them for forever homes.
At least once a week you can find Ginny volunteering at ReTails, a Vancouver, WA thrift store that benefits the local humane society. And, since life can't be entirely about dogs, even for Ginny, she's also an active hospice volunteer.
Taking in shelter dogs isn't always easy. Ginny's home has carpet -- cream colored carpet, no less. So she and Don cover their side yard in straw to keep the mud down when the dogs run in and out of the house with wet, muddy paws. Anything for the dogs, right?
She and Don often take separate vacations so one of them can stay home with the pups. And she's broken her wrist twice when rambunctious dogs pulled too hard on their leashes during their twice-daily walks.
She wears shirts that say things like "Easily distracted by dogs" and "Sorry I'm late. I saw a dog." And even her phone's ringtone is a dog barking.
But it's all worth it, given the love and affection her canine kids constantly shower upon her. In fact, it's hard to imagine her without a furry canine or two by her side. "Dogs are some of my very favorite people," Ginny quips.
