[gb70]

I appreciate your kind words.

After nearly 17 years of being a loyal dog owner I think we need a while before thinking of another. I was the primary care giver to Pepper the last three or so years and it has been especially hard the last 8 months. While down in California eight months ago for my father in laws funeral we had to place Pepper in a shelter. She barks when ever we are not around and I believe that this is what contributed to her stomach twisting. She barely pulled through that surgery and it was quite sketchy after if she would make it. She beat the 15% odds our vet gave her and lived another 8 months. I know she would have made it a bit longer but she was very uncomfortable with her hips not working, she could not walk at all. It was getting really hard the last few weeks and my wife thought it would be for the best on us all to put her down. The last few days have been real hard but as time goes by I will be less hurt. She really was a great dog.