A Dog Named “Pepper” – My Youth Companion

My Pets and their soul-prints upon me.

Among my most treasured childhood memories was my first dog – a black cocker spaniel named “Pepper.” I had Pepper from the time I was about 7 years old until my early twenties. I remember the joy I had with Pepper in a small red wagon I had where we would ride together down a long hill sidewalk. My images of those rides are forever. My walks, playing ball, hugging, the knowing Pepper was a part of my youth was constant evidence of pure love around me.

Pepper endured momentous changes. We moved from a beautiful yard where she had a doghouse built to match our own and great freedom. When I was 16, we moved from Colorado to California and a whole new existence began for both of us.

Pepper adapted to every change and there were 7 moves in 6 years. My mother divorced my stepfather and soon after my sister and her four daughters moved to California after she divorced her husband. Pepper was my rock – my beloved friend.
She brought love to us all. My late teens and into my mid-twenties were about being there always for my mom, sister, and nieces. Pepper made her paw print upon us all. My nieces were very annoyed, however, whenever at the dinner table one of them would ask – “Pass the pepper” and I would get Pepper and carry her to the table.
I couldn’t get away with it often, but it was such fun.

What Matters – Our Love Is Forever

The deepest paw print from Pepper, no matter how immense the changes, what mattered – we were together. Pepper was a soul companion through my youth. Her aging began to bring her great pain and struggle. I came home from work one day and my sister and mother sat me down to let me know they had taken Pepper to the veterinarian to send her to her eternal home. They felt it would be too much for me. But I would have been grateful to be the one to hold her in that transition. There were times when I knew I could have been a better Master through all those changes, yet for Pepper, it was only that I was in the picture. I will forever remember our being together in that red wagon – joyfully going down that hill. My nieces also had a red wagon that they pulled Pepper in!

Please take a moment – place your hand on your heart – and honor the Transcendental Love your pets have brought you. It is forever. Change to unconditional love.

See this illuminating article on: Unconditional Love: Is devotion to pets a cultural universal?

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Image by Josef Pichler from Pixabay