In Memoriam PepperAnn 2010-2015

PepperAnn was a beloved member of the construction and operating teams of our AL&E. She welcomed all the “company” to our many sessions with her happy, wagging tail. She especially liked the treats that always seemed to appear with each special guest.

In 2010, I was working full time, my oldest was away at college, and the younger one was also preparing for college soon. Early in that year, we received the devastating news that my wife had stage 4 lung cancer that had metastasized significantly throughout her body. Just before Christmas, my wife used the cover story that a dog would be a companion and helpful with walking rehab from the chemo treatments. I was not in favor of this idea because I had concerns that I would become the dog’s caregiver as well as my wife’s. Despite this, PepperAnn, came into our lives as a tiny cocker spaniel/shar-pei mix 10-week old puppy in January of 2011. She selected our oldest daughter with her lap cuddle, and was inseparable from our family ever after. And PepperAnn also adopted me right from the moment she entered our home.

My wife valiantly fought the darned big “C”, but it was too far along when initially detected to stop it. She became wheelchair-bound in the Spring of 2011, with PepperAnn at her side cuddling every day. And PepperAnn and I then became forever friends with our daily after-work walks.  After my wife suffered a serious seizure due to the cancer and radiation damage to her brain, I retired early in 2014 to care for her demanding medical needs. I had hoped for a few years more, but unfortunately she lost the battle in July.

PepperAnn was very important to me in the aftermath of that loss. She insisted that we take, not one, but 2 walks every day. She was by my side as I worked on my model railroad, and welcomed my Round-Robin work group and operating friends every couple of weeks. In 2017, my mother suffered a catastrophic accident that left her significantly paralyzed. I became her agent in charge and had to make some significant decisions, including full-time care in a nursing home. Until her passing, PepperAnn accompanied me on every visit to my Mom’s nursing homes, befriending all the other residents, too.  

When I decided to relocate, PepperAnn was the one who fell in love with our new community and sealed the deal for me. I was as concerned about her adapting to a new life as I was about myself. We both embraced our new geography and friends. She absolutely loved our very long walks, visits to the beaches and parks, and our large yard. I had some significant medical issues soon after we moved here, and she was instrumental in getting me out every day. She somehow knew that there was just a little more that I should do every day until I was well again.

PepperAnn always greeted our guests with her enthusiastically wagging tail. She looked forward to the “guys” coming in every month and would diligently “snoopervise” the operation until she tired herself out. At that point, she’d sleep soundly on her little dog bed underneath the layout, but within sight distance of all action. It would be hilarious to see her come out from the skirt if there was any disruption! She knew what was going on!

Looking back now, I can see that she started to slow down in 2023. In the Spring of 2024 she developed a cancer on her left rear paw. The vet amputated one of her toes and thought that they had all the cancer. Her paw recovered but she never went back to taking the long walks to which we were accustomed. She began to have trouble with her rear legs and by August, I knew that something was seriously wrong. In September the vet confirmed my worst fears: she had liver cancer causing her abdomen to accumulate fluid and attacking other vital functions. Herbal supplements, Tylenol, prednisone and TLC helped her for a while. She had fluid extracted during the fall that also gave her relief.

She had a great Christmas. As soon as gifts appeared beneath the Christmas tree, she began searching for hers. She embraced my granddaughter, and my granddaughter enjoyed “being nice” to her. PepperAnn rallied for the January 2025 Operating Session. Everyone noticed how much better she seemed than at the previous month’s session. She enjoyed everyone’s company and was friendly to all! However, she had lost a lot of weight and was not eating as much as normal and the next week began having significant trouble breathing. Another visit to the vet disclosed that one lung had collapsed and the cancer mass had taken over her abdomen. The short rally was typical of behavior near the end of life.

Sadly, I had to make the decision to end her suffering. I was with her on January 17th when she went peacefully to her “happy place”. I’m pretty sure that she’s reunited with her “mommy” now and they are awaiting the day that I will join them to play again.

For someone who really didn’t want to have the responsibility of a dog, it is amazing to me that she was among the best things that have been a part of my life. If I ever had any doubts, I think now that there are some powers in play here that I can’t fully understand.

PepperAnn; October 2010-January 2025