First Post of the Day
It did not take Pepper long to adjust to her new retirement home.
and very soon,
she began following me everywhere.
She loved being with Craig, too, but our relationship was different almost from the very beginning.
She followed Seeing Eye training and protocol in many ways including going under the table or desk whenever I sat down.
In Sarah's world, that kept her from tripping others or blocking people who needed to get around the room. For me, I had to learn to be careful where my feet were at all times so that I did not kick her.
She adjusted to wherever I was sitting and liked to grab my leg(s) with her paws. Seven years later, she still wants close contact with me, and often is leaning against me, curled up to me hip to hip, or (especially at night) lying side by side, and holding one of my arms in between her paws.
I realized that she had transferred her partner relationship to me, and that I was her new partner.
During the holidays, Pepper was introduced to our kids and grands. She especially liked Cole, and the joke was that we were going to check his luggage before he left so he did not smuggle her home to Tennessee.
Pepper quickly discovered that the best seat in the house was under the grands' dinner table!
The whole family learned a lot about Seeing Eye dogs from being around her.
I love this picture that Mila drew of Pepper guiding Sarah on a windy day.
There were others who came into Pepper's orbit, too.
I introduced her to Abby. I think Pepper was surprised by Abby, although she didn't shy away from her. I wonder if Seeing Eye training included horses and other livestock. (I should ask Sarah.)
Of course, Kathy came over to meet her.
Pepper and Nacho became good friends
and she was a special guest at his retirement party.
Lisa created a reading program where her students could earn a "Pepper Pass" and spend time with her if they'd met their reading goal. It was highly popular with her students, and Pepper and I both enjoyed going to school once a quarter to be with those kiddos.
Tammo came to live with us for a while and is a special friend.
As were Molly
and Millie.
And, of course, Nash who is over here frequently. (Pepper is still unsure about Rosie who has a lot of energy and is still learning boundaries.)
Highlights of her day include playing with her favorite toys
and heading to the park every morning to play frisbee.
Life for Miss P is good but we are also aware that she is getting older and starting to slow down.
And, she has a mass on her chest that fortunately is a lipoma, but it's not in the best of places, especially should it need to be removed. With Zeus having had a cancerous mass on his chest that ended up taking his life, needless to say I am keeping an eye on this one.
I'll always be grateful to Kathy for recommending us to Sarah as Pep's retirement home and for Sarah for having chosen us to be blessed with our girl.
She's some dog herself!
Stay 'tooned!
