Acquiring a Service Dog: Pepper!

I've written a lot about Pepper over the years that she has been with us, so many of you are familiar with her story already. Still, I wanted to collect some of those stories together and write a quick synopsis of her life as a Seeing Eye Dog and then as our pet.

Guiding Sarah

Pepper was born and bred at The Seeing Eye, the oldest guide dog training facility in the United States. After time with a puppy raiser, she began tests of intelligence and obedience that were required for her to pass before begin training for what was intended to be her life's work as a Seeing Eye Dog.

Because a Seeing Eye Dog's partner is so dependent upon their dog to keep them safe and get them places (including making independent decisions) many of the puppies do not make it through the initial tests or the training for harness. These dogs often become service dogs in other capabilities.

Pepper completed all those tests and that rigorous training, passed her final exams, and was deemed ready to be paired with her partner. 

That partner was Sarah Blake LaRose who spent three weeks at The Seeing Eye where she was paired with Pepper. Together they began training to work as partners. 

From puppy to harness is an expensive process, currently costing between $50,000 - $60,000 per dog. Costs are covered almost completely by donations.

Pepper's sister, Paige, also made it through all the tests and training and was paired with a woman named Kathy. 

Pepper's Seeing Eye tattoo in her ear; the first number is her mother and the second is Pepper's birth order.

Pepper spent a very busy year with Sarah. Sarah was a minister and she was also working on her doctorate at Anderson University. Pepper went everywhere with her, guiding her through tasks associated with those two activities along with the day to day tasks of grocery shopping and running errands.

Getting a lift to another building at Anderson University one day.

It all suddenly came crashing down. Pepper collapsed. Sarah knew something was terribly wrong and she got Pepper the high level of care that she needed. No one knew that Pepper had been born without adrenal glands and so she had no cortisol to help her handle stress, including the stress of guiding Sarah through all her activities and commitments.

They discovered that Pepper had Addison's Disease, and she was in a full blown Addison's crisis and nearly died. Thanks to Sarah's quick thinking, Pepper survived.

But, she had to be retired immediately or the continuing stress would kill her.

A New Life with Craig & Me

I cannot imagine what it was like for Sarah during that time. She was losing the dog who gave her the freedom to work, study, and move around her community. To live an independent life. And, she was losing a dog that she loved and who was a close companion to her. It had to have been very difficult.

Sarah and I have a mutual friend, Kathy Nimmer, who is visually impaired herself. Sarah told Kathy that she needed to retire Pepper and was looking for a good retirement home, asking if Kathy knew anyone who would take good care of her.

Kathy recommended us.

Pepper off duty and playing with Sarah in their basement.

Kathy called me, explained the situation, and asked if we might be interested in rehoming Pepper with us. Zeus had been gone for 8 years - he had left such a hole in our lives that we simply had been unable to consider getting a new dog. But we decided that we were ready to try loving a dog that deeply again.

So, we spoke to Sarah who invited us to come over so she and Pepper could meet us.

It was love at first sight for us all.

Sarah interviewed us and then we asked our own questions of her. When we finished, we confirmed that we would be happy to take Pepper into our home. Sarah replied that she had three more couples to interview and that she would let us know when she decided who she felt would be the best placement for Pepper.

A few days later, we got the call that Pepper was ours.

Another black Lab service dog, albeit a much smaller Lab and one with different service training from Zeus. We were thrilled. 

Our life with Pepper had begun.

Stay 'tooned!

Pups, Patterns, & Devotion

My sewing is not always done in the sewing room. On Wednesdays and Fridays when Mama spends the day with us, one of us stays downstairs with her at all times.

She is an elderly girl and while she wants to follow everyone upstairs, it has become more and more challenging for her to negotiate the stairs. Having one of us stay downstairs during her visits lets her have the company she wants without the stress (and sometimes pain) of struggling up the stairs.

Craig and I trade off throughout the day in two hour shifts and we both have learned to have things ready that we can work on downstairs on the days she and Nash visit. 

Cutting out patterns for 18th century clothing is one of the things I save for Mama-days. The dining room table actually works better than my sewing table because it is both longer and wider. I bring down several cuts of fabrics, patterns, pins, scissors, and marking chalk and I get a lot done during my two hour blocks hanging out with Mama.

Until Pepper goes into her Seeing Eye Dog protocols. Then, it's a lot harder to pin and cut the fabric.

Her training is that she should get out of the way and go under the desk, chair, or table where her partner is. So, like any well trained Seeing Eye Guide Dog, that is what she does. (Remember Tate's antics trying to do the same thing at the doctor's office? These dogs know what to do and how to get it done!)

She could "get out of the way" in any place of our home, but of course she wants to stay with me and, as she was taught, be close by and accessible for when I might need her.

And she prefers right under the table and at my feet. And usually right where I'd like to put my feet!

Which means I end up sitting like this and having to make extra efforts to pin and cut my fabric.

The rational thing do do would be to have her move to another place. But I don't. I am very aware that she is trying to take care of me in the best way she knows how. And that means being right under the table at my feet. 

There are three doggie beds and two "yes, Pepper, you're allowed up" couches in the dining and living rooms that she could choose to snooze on. But she doesn't choose any of them. 

She chooses to watch over me.

I have to respect her for that. Honor her, too. Even more, I love her for her devotion to me and for doing what she clearly considers her duty - taking care of me. And so she makes sure she's close by if I need her. 

(Reminds me of when the fire alarms went off in the house and she insisted I follow her and get outside to safety. I knew there was no fire in our home, but she didn't and was adamant that I go with her and out onto the safety of the back patio.)

So, on Wednesdays and Fridays, I get to spend a lot of time with these two sweet girls. Molly cuddles up on a dog bed and sleeps, Pepper snoozes at my feet, ready to help if needed, and I quietly cut out patterns and think about how lucky I am to have such sweet animals to hang out with.

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.

A Mini Pepper!

 Many of you know that my dog Pepper is a retired Seeing Eye Dog.

Pepper in harness guiding Sarah on campus for graduation in 2019.

Pepper loves retirement.

She REALLY does.

Does this look like a dog who knows how to take you safely around downtown New York City, threading you through crowds and around obstacles, and so forth? She may not look like it, but she can! (And has.)

Her training does surface occasionally, though. Last  month she "traffic checked" me while we were out walking. Traffic checking is a part of intelligent disobedience where the dog makes a decision to disregard your command due to safety issues that she can see and that you (presumably) cannot. I had started to cross the street knowing that a car was approaching but confident that we had time to cross. Pepper disagreed and stepped in front of me so that she was blocking my way forward. (Good girl, Pepper!)

Aside from those Seeing Eye behaviors that happen every now and then, I don't think about Pepper's former life much any more. A little while back, though, I got a little reminder in the mail from Shannon Rodgers.

A mini Pepper! A teeny tiny black Lab in working harness!

The grip handle that the dog's partner holds while they are working together even moves forward and back, just as a real one does!

Thank you, Shannon, for the gift! That was so thoughtful of you and I keep it right here next to me in my horse room.

(I'm up to three black Labs in my collection, but not to worry - I do not collect dogs any more than I collect Stablemates...)

Now We are Three

We have a new family member, and it's NOT a new grandbaby. Meet Pepper!

 Pepper is a three year old black Lab. She is also a very special girl - a Seeing Eye Guide Dog!

She joined her handler, Sarah, a little over a year ago and has been guiding Sarah around her activities as a doctoral student and pastor in a town two hours away from us.

Me, Sarah, Craig, and Sarah's husband Kevin (who is also visually impaired) circling Pepper for a group hug and photo.

Two weeks ago, Pepper suddenly became very ill and had to be hospitalized. It turned out that she has an autoimmune disease that is very rare in dogs.  Sadly, she would not be healthy enough to guide Sarah every day.

As you might imagine, Sarah was absolutely devastated by the news that Pepper needed to retire immediately. And, even sadder, Sarah was not able to keep her as a pet. My friend, Kathy Nimmer, who is also blind as well as a friend of Sarah's, heard about the situation via social media. She thought that we would give Pepper a good home and, after running the idea past Craig and me, contacted Sarah and shared a little about us, suggesting that Sarah might consider letting us adopt Pepper.

Kathy, her guide dog, Nacho, and me heading out for some fun.

There were four placements that Sarah was considering for Pepper's retirement home, and we were the lucky ones that she chose. To be sure we were a good fit for Pepper (and vice versa), Saturday we drove over to meet Pepper and Sarah. It seemed to be the proverbial match made in heaven,  and we picked her up yesterday and brought her to her new home.

 We are in love with her! She is very dignified when she is working, but take off that working harness and she becomes a great big puppy.

 With a healthy appetite.  

Like any typical Lab, food, balls,

 and people are her main loves in life.

 Pepper is settling in well so far.

She seems particularly fond of Craig and he returns that love. 

Our daughter, Lisa, dropped by to meet Pepper and discovered that Pepper is so strong,

 she can pull a human being across the floor! (And win the rope toy at the same time!)

We love our new family member. And, instead of two retirees hanging around the house, now we are three!