I started writing this entry with the intent of sharing a few stories about Eddie and how he always brightens my day. I then got to thinking about family pets in general...which got me to thinking about my family's pets...which lead me to write a little somethin' somethin' about our first family pet, Pepper. (Don't worry - I have plenty of Eddie stories to share another time)
I've always considered myself a dog person. Maybe its because my family has always had a pet dog in our lives or perhaps its because I can't really stand cats (shhhhhh - don't tell Chris. Kidding. He's well aware). When I was little, our family dog was a big black mutt named Pepper. Pepper was born on one of the many farms on the outskirts of Sauk Centre. The family that owned the mother gave the entire litter away. We weren't even sure what breed or mix of breeds she was, but we did know one thing - she was perfect for our family - a family that had 3 young children (and another that would join us a few years later). Pepper was just happy to have us in her life and we were happy to have her. That dog would do everything and go everywhere with us - even when we didn't want her to. She would run along side us as we rode our sleds down the huge hill behind our house in the winter. She would come and greet us as we got off the bus from school. She would follow us when we rode our bikes uptown and wait for us outside of the store. Growing up in a small town, it seemed as though everyone knew who she was, so she could get away with this.
One of the funnier memories I have of her was when I thought it would be a good idea to tie her leash up to our little red wagon and have her pull my younger brother Shane (who at the time was about 2 or 3 years old) and his friend Collin behind her - sort of a like a little horse and buggy, except it was dog and little red wagon. Sounds cute right? It was cute.....until she saw something that apparantly she just HAD to have and took off running, wagon and 2 small children in tow behind her with me running frantically behind them yelling at her to stop. I can't even recall what she was running after. She only made it a few blocks until the wagon finally ended up tipping over on the grass with the 2 boy spilling out on the lawn. (Just as a side note - no injuries occurred from this little mishap, probably just a couple dirty diapers because I'm sure I literally scared the sh*t out of those 2 little boys. I'm also sure that I'll get a call from my mom after she reads this asking what in God's name was I thinking? I don't know mom - I was probably tired of pulling the wagon).
Pepper did have one downfall. She had a love of chasing cars - a love that got her into a bit of trouble when she got too close one day and a truck ran over her right rear leg. For those of you that know my mom - ask her to tell you that story sometime. :) Even though it was traumatic at the time, it does have some laughable parts when we talk about it today. And the way my mom tells it, you can't help but chuckle. Pepper was a survivor, and though that truck might have taken her leg that day, it didn't take her from us! My parents made the decision to amputate her hind leg and she lived for another 8 years :)
I was a senior (I think) in high school, when it was came time put her down. She was 16 years old, arthritic, deaf and partially blind. It was just her time to go. Its never an easy choice to make when you have to put down a family pet, because they really do become a part of your family. It hit each of us pretty hard. Wow - I still get a little teary-eyed thinking about it. Oh, who am I kidding...I get teary eyed from any story about a family pet that's only got a short while to live. Marley and Me....can't make it through that movie without sobbing hysterically. Then, there is a local pet photographer, Sara Beth Photography whose blogs I follow. She does special pet photography sessions called Joy Sessions. These are basically photo shoots for pets that only have a few weeks left to live. I can't make it through the first few pictures without my eyes watering up.What can I say?? I've got a soft spot in my heart for family pets.
