A Christmas Wish for Sheba's mom, Pepper

[Ann Kendig]

Recently, Sheba got to meet her mom, Pepper.  I am amazed at how much they look alike and how they have quite a few of the same mannerisms.  I see where Sheba gets her head tilt and shyness.  Pepper is an incredibly sweet girl, just like Sheba.  : )

About a week ago I picked Pepper up from the "Breeder" I bought Sheba from.  I have been trying for about 3 years to get Pepper from this breeder.  About a year and a half ago I was planning on picking up Pepper when at the last minute the breeder called and said that Pepper was pregnant!!!  She wanted to keep Pepper to raise and sell the puppies. UGH!!   One of the puppies from this litter was returned to the breeder.  Some of you may remember Brianna, Sheba's half sister, the Newfie/Poodle.  I think the breeder felt bad for not giving up Pepper so she gave Brianna to me.  Brianna is now known as Liberty or Libbey as she was born on the 4th of July.  She now has a wonderful family that think the world of her.  The DRC was so kind to take her into their program and help find her a new home.

I am so glad that Pepper is finally here. That being said I feel a lot of anger and sadness.  Pepper was a back yard breeder's dog, she was not a friend, not a companion, just a tool to make money.  My heart goes out to her as she is just a shell of a dog.  She is a broken dog with an amputated spirit.  In Pepper's face I can see years of solitary confinement in a kennel, the cold winters, the scorching summers, the endless seasons of neglect.  The neglect, the abandonment, the loneliness that breaks you, body and spirit, human and animal alike, until there is nothing left, just skin and bones. No guilt, no sorrow. No one ever felt pity or compassion for Pepper. Pepper is an example of an uncaring breeder's dog, she was not a friend, not a companion, just a tool.  

Until today….

Pepper has been rescued, at this precise moment she is sleeping under the desk next to me. She is 5 years and 4 months old.  When she arrived she was extremely smelly with feces and urine on her coat.  She is a bag of bones, and had whipworm, ear infections, and some bad teeth. The breeder was thinking of breeding her again and mentioned that if I wanted to breed Pepper she would like one of her puppies!  Grrrrrr.  I am trying not to say anything too negative as it is Christmas!

Most of the time Pepper wants to lay on her bed.  She doesn't seem to care much about food or water.  I have tried so many different ways to get her to eat.  What works the best is starting out feeding her by hand.  The other day I made the mistake of tossing Sheba a piece of food while Pepper was finally eating on her own.  Although Sheba was across the kitchen and not near Pepper it startled her and she wouldn't eat the rest of the day. *sigh*  She doesn't really want to go outside as I think the world is far too big for a dog that's been confined to a small kennel.  Thankfully she has only had one accident and is doing very well on her house training.  Sometimes I have to pick her up off of her bed to go outside to potty.  She could hold her poo and pee FOREVER!!!!    She is so fearful of EVERYTHING!! 

My Christmas wish for Pepper is in time she will be healed.  I hope that I can help turn her life around. I want to help rebuild her body and strength, maybe in the process be able to put together the pieces of her broken spirit.

This girl is a real challenge for me.  If any of you have any suggestions on how to help me help her, please let me know!!

Happy Holidays Everyone!!  : )

 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I hope everyone who reads Pepper's story will remember her the next time the subject of BYBs comes up, and someone tries to rationalize buying a puppy from one.

[Ann Kendig]

Adina-I do think some of Pepper's fears are part of her nature. Sheba can be shy, fearful at times and has anxiety, much more than Duke. Maybe Pepper passed some of this onto Sheba? It is interesting how much alike they are when it comes to their personality and mannerisms. I can finally see where Sheba got the color of her coat. Sometimes Mike and I get them confused as they are so close in color and height.

[Becka]

Thank you for sharing Pepper's story and for rescuing her. She could not be in better hands (and paws!).

[Ann Kendig]

Thank you all for your prayers, support and suggestions. I really appreciate it! I am happy to report that yesterday was by far the best day Pepper had since she arrived. (Lisa-I picked up Pepper on Dec. 17th.). Pepper LOVES to ride in the car, which I find surprising. We took the dogs for a nice car ride yesterday until the roads got too nasty from the snow. Pepper's head was up and looking around the whole time. This was the first time I let her ride in the car without being in the crate. It took a little doing to get her in the car but she laid down and settled in right away.

When we took her outside to potty she went pretty much right away instead of taking forever. I think she finally feels more comfortable to have a bowel movement. We try to take her to the same place each time she potties. Don't know if it would have worked better if we could have left a couple BMs there so she would get the idea sooner. Due to the worms she had her BMs were picked up right away. She seems to be be better hydrated
now and feeling better. She is now sneaking over to one of the five water dishes I have scattered all over the kitchen and drinking. Yesterday she ate great!!! I have to throw bits of cheese, shredded chicken, and a little canned dog food in a bowl of Orijen to entice her. I didn't have to hand feed her at all!! Today the roads are better so we'll go to the store to get a different flavor of food. Don't think she cares much for the fish flavored Orijen and frankly the smell gets stronger when water is added (to get more liquids into her) and the smell nauseates me. Ugh!! She seems a little more interested in going on walks so we took her on several walks on the property yesterday. She doesn't really like the snow on her feet so we followed my hubby as he made a path with the snow blower out to the back of the property. She followed me like a little duckling. (Of course, Sheba thought it was a game to run through the snow that was being thrown and was covered with snow, lol). Last night for their evening meal she came into the kitchen while I was preparing their food! She didn't get very close but at least she wasn't lying on her bed sleeping or observing.

Today she is doing pretty well. She didn't eat as well but she isn't sleeping as much and seems more interested in her surroundings. She is finally wagging her tail a little bit! I opened the blind in the living room so the dogs could look outside to watch Mike shovel snow. When the blind opened it really scared her and she took off running. I picked her up and carried her in the living room and held her so she could look out the window with S & Duke. She relaxed some and I think she actually enjoyed it. She is overcoming her fear of going up and down steps which is good as we have lots of steps and I shouldn't be carrying her with a bad back.

Thankfully Pepper is wonderful in the house. We left them all the Christmas night for a few hours and Pepper wasn't crated. She did great! We don't have issues with her peeing when she is scared or she'd be doing it constantly!

She is definitely a dog that we need to take baby steps with. Sometimes I think a fear has been conquered but the next day or a few days later she falls back and we start all over again. I'm just glad she's finally here and safe. She loves to be snuggled and if I sit on the floor she will slowly walk up and lay on the floor and put her feet on my leg. Sometimes I pull her close and just hug and kiss her. At first she freezes but after a bit she relaxes and enjoys the affection and wants more if I stop. A few times she has slinked up to me and gave me a quick kiss on the hand then backs off.

I surely do love this girl! I would keep her in a heartbeat Sherri! Don't think I can talk hubby out of being a "two dog family". : (. I wouldn't mind one bit being a foster failure with this sweetie pie! She has a wonderfully sweet disposition, just like Sheba. : ). If we didn't have so many vet bills with S & Dukes allergy medications, Sheba's urinary tract infections and the frequent trips to the vet because Duke flares from his allergies (not to mention yearly vaccines and heart worm/flea prevention) we would keep Pepper. Wish I could win the lottery!!

[Adina P]

I'm so happy to read this story...that you finally got Pepper and she is in a loving home.  What a happy Christmas for Pepper!  I think most dogs can come around as they learn that people are dependable.  Some fear issues might have been just part of her nature, only time will tell.  I think obedience training can help too...gives dogs something solid to stand on and gives them proper expectations where they get to learn again and again that things happen in a predictable way.

[Suzanne & Jack]

Such a sad story. I'm sure it is incredibly difficult to see such a broken spirited doodle. With time and patience you will gain her trust. She is lucky to have landed in your home

[Sheila & Finnley]

Ann you told a very sad but also heartwarming story. It is a story that isn't done yet, so be patient. Pepper had a hard and unfair old life, but she has started a new life, with a new story. You Duke and Sheba are writing it, how lucky for her ! It will have chapters of love, playing and learning to trust. The best part is that everyone know it will also have a very happy ending.

Doodle Hugs to all of you ♥

[Doris]

Ann you are so wonderful to do this for Sheba's mom.  I think it will take time, but Pepper will learn how to be a loving doodle with you, Mike and your doods to help her. 

[Ronna, Murphy & Wilson]

Thank you for helping Pepper, and for giving her a family and love. Hugs to all of you. I look forward to hearing more about Pepper.

[Carol and Banjo]

Oh Ann,  I am saying a prayer for Pepper and will keep all of you in my thoughts and prayers.   She is so blessed to have found her home with you all.   Patience, love and time will surely bring her around.