Paige, Pepper's Sister

Note: The woman named Kathy in this blog post is not the same Kathy who had Nacho and now Tate as her guides.

Sara, the woman Pepper guided, called and shared some sad news with me yesterday. Paige, Pepper's sister, had passed away.

Paige at The Seeing Eye in Morristown, New Jersey in 2018.

Pepper and Sara at the Morristown training center.

Kathy and Paige were in the same training class as Sara and Pepper. (They call this "the sissie picture.")

Pepper guided Sara for a year - taking her around campus for her university classes, to church on Wednesdays and Sundays where Sara was an associate pastor, and to other places she needed to go. 

And then suddenly Pepper became seriously ill with a mystery disease and nearly died. Fortunately Sara quickly got her to a vet and then on to a specialist where it was discovered that Pepper had Addison's Disease and that the stress from guiding Sara had triggered an Addison's crisis in her. It took a while, but a balance of medications and rest from her duties stabilized her and Pepper was released from the hospital.

Sadly, she also had to be released from guiding Sara as the stress from continuing to guide would literally kill her. Craig and I were chosen to be her retirement home and we continue to manage her disease with daily pills and monthly injections. We also have to be careful to not put her in situations that might stress her and trigger another Addison's crisis.

Retirement is enjoyable for her - Craig and I are pretty quiet people and her life reflects that.

Craig fixes her a scrambled egg every morning, I fix her a peanut butter treat in the afternoon, we play frisbee in the park daily, and Craig walks her in the evening. 

Pepper is stable in her disease management and she is a happy girl.

Sadly, Paige's story is different. She was still in harness working as Kathy's guide and suddenly became very ill. Kathy and Sara talked and Sara shared with her about Pepper's Addison's Disease and how Paige's symptoms were the same. I do not know how things unfolded after that, and neither does Sara. 

But, Paige did not make it. She passed away. 

That's two puppies from the same litter who have had significant health challenges and I can't help but wonder how the other siblings are faring.

Pepper's ear tattoo indicates that she was the fifth-born puppy of the litter so there are at least three more siblings somewhere. (The first number is her mother.) Do any of them have Addisons? Or will it raise its ugly head suddenly and take their lives like it did with Paige and almost did with Pepper?

A recent ultrasound on Pepper discovered that she has no adrenal glands, a genetic defect. And that is why she has Addisons's (although not all dogs with the disease are missing those glands; their adrenal glands just don't produce enough cortisol and aldosterone.) Was that genetic flaw the case with Paige and the ultimate cause of her early death? Are Paige and Pepper's living siblings at risk for a similar experience?

It's awful to lose a dog you love, but when that dog is also your guide, one who looks out for you and keeps you safe, it is even harder - there is bond between a guide dog and their partner that is almost like a marriage when it comes to knowing one another, working together, and caring for each other. I've witnessed that bond in action among my blind friends, and it is powerful.

Rest in peace, sweet Paige. I cried many tears for you yesterday. If you were anything like your "sissie," then you were a wonderful girl and no doubt you will be missed.

Thank you for giving your life to guide Kathy and enrich and empower hers. I honor you for your selfless service.

Godspeed.