When animal control officers in Eastford, Connecticut, found a 4-year-old dog named Ginger wandering alone, they couldn’t help but notice her unusual charm — she had only one ear perched right on top of her head, like a little unicorn horn.
They quickly contacted her family, expecting them to be relieved. But instead of rushing to bring her home, they said they didn’t want her back. Ginger, they explained, “escaped too often” — and that was that.
Heartbroken but determined to help, PawSafe Animal Rescue took Ginger in. They were immediately smitten by her gentle, affectionate nature.
“She was just a fantastic, cute, wonderful dog,” said Diane Mangold, the rescue’s director. “I can’t believe her owners didn’t want her back.”
The team soon discovered that Ginger’s one-eared look wasn’t just cosmetic — she truly had one ear canal, not two.
But that didn’t slow her down one bit. In fact, her uniqueness only made her more endearing.
“Closest thing to a real-life unicorn,” one commenter wrote under PawSafe’s Facebook post.
Everyone at the rescue was certain she’d find a home immediately. Her photo drew dozens of comments and messages from people eager to meet her. But when adoption day arrived, not a single person came for Ginger.
“Tons of people said they were coming, and then no one showed,” Mangold said. “She was so quiet — just watching everyone walk by without picking her.”
The staff’s hearts sank. Ginger had already been abandoned once, and now it felt like it was happening again.
But fate wasn’t done with her story. A few days later, after PawSafe shared her disappointment online, a young couple walked into the shelter — and they only had eyes for Ginger.
“She was bouncing around the adoption room while they filled out the paperwork,” Mangold said. “She was just so happy — ready to go out the front door.”
After everything she’s been through, Ginger finally has a family who sees her for exactly what she is: a one-of-a-kind dog with a heart full of love.
If you’d like to help more dogs like Ginger, you can donate to PawSafe Animal Rescue.
