Pepper was my baby girl, best dog I've ever had. She was my whole world, we barely spent a day apart in 8 years.
I'll never forget when she came home as a puppy. Her owner didn't want her and gave her to my dad. She was supposed to be my mom's dog, but she instantly attached to me. She was a particularly annoying puppy, haha. But she was mine, and I needed her. And so I tried to give her the best life, she wanted for nothing.
I'll also never forget the first day she collapsed. We rushed her to the vet, and thus began the onslaught of tests over a month as she rapidly declined. Then they found it. It was her heart. It was terminal. She had just made it through her 8th birthday, and my baby was dying. The vet was amazed she'd made it to diagnosis due to how advanced her case was. My baby was a fighter.
She improved immediately with tons of meds. She was like a puppy again. I denied her mortality for months. I kept thinking they were wrong, the meds would hold forever, that she would be ok. I went through all the stages of grief, but I finally accepted it was coming.
5 months we had. 5 beautiful, happy, perfect months. But we were on borrowed time. One day she suddenly refused all food, even her favorite, rotisserie chicken. I knew it was time. I remember every single detail in those last 3 sleepless days. I screamed, I cried, I would have died for her. But I made sure she went in peace, surrounded by her favorite toys and blanket to send her off.

Pepper died september 1st, 2019.
Nothing has been the same without her. I still miss her every day, I cry for her, I treasure every photo and memory. Sometimes I talk to her and stroke her little pawprints. I wanted to make a sculpture of her so I could see her again in some way, smiling her adorable goofy smile she'd make.

Thanks for the memories, Peeps. <3