I first met Pepper in a pet store in 2012. I was thinking about my Sammie who had passed away years earlier. I was determined to not get another dog and I stayed true to that throughout the years, however, I loved going into this one particular pet store to get my puppy fix without taking anyone home.

Well, we know how that worked out. I decided if I were ever to get another dog, he or she would have to have hair and not fur. Sammie was a Shelty and it was a fully time job keeping him groomed. I stopped in one afternoon and saw this little black puppy. I was also determined to not a get a black dog, if ever I would get a dog, for fear of losing him in the dark.

This little black hair ball sprung up in his pen the moment we laid eyes on each other. I left thinking I need to get out of here before I do something I didn’t think I wanted. I went at a later time to say hi again and all the other puppies were sold except for my little Pepper. I left again thinking this cannot be so; was this my new companion?

I had to get real with my thoughts about getting dog that would possibly outlive me. In the moment I had the thought I picked up the phone and called the store and asked that they not sell him because he was mine. I brought Pepper home and 12 years later, we are thriving happily and healthily together.