Pepper

We have 3 pets; 2 dogs and a cat. We got a puppy in the spring of 2007 when we lived in the cabin behind my parent's house. At the time, they also had a dog who was about 2 years old named Pepper. Pepper was quite depressed as they were never around and he was lonely. He spent a lot of time barking at the neighbor's dog. 

Well, Pepper loved our puppy Togie so much! He came to our house all the time and they loved playing. In the fall of 2007 my mom and step-dad traveled to China to adopt my little brother. During the 3 weeks they were there Pepper stayed with us.

When my parents got home they quickly found out that my brother was terrified of dogs. So, Pepper moved in. He was so much happier with us and his buddy Togie. No plan was ever made for him to go back to their house and we embraced our second dog with the chant "Two dogs are better than 1!" 

In 2010 we bought a house. When we moved we brought Pepper with us. He was so happy and never seemed to want to go back to live with my mom. She agreed he was happy and better behaved/trained with us. 

Pepper is my shadow. If I'm upstairs, he comes upstairs. He keeps a close eye on me and seems to always know where I am. Peppee is the sweetest dog and was the first to really come around to the girls. Everyone who comes over loves him as he's not your typical dog. 

A few weeks ago we noticed a bump on Pepper's hip. Hoping it would go away we didn't rush him to the vet. We finally got him in yesterday and did not receive good news. The vet thinks the bump is cancer. He did not suggest doing anything and said could could live a couple months or years, there's no way to know. 

So, I'm trying to enjoy my buddy Pepper and spoil him every way I can (he ate my pizza crust next to me on the couch last night). I'm really sad but trying not to let him know that because he is very sensitive. I know we've given him a great life, but I'm having a hard time picturing life without my shadow.