Pepper...A PET STORE HERO - warning SAD
 

I've asked my friend Kathy if I could her story here. She IS a member of this site and I hope she will post. We've been friends for quite a few years now and I still remember her bringing her yorkie Pepper home. Pepper is a sick little Puppy Mill/Pet Store Puppy.

Pepper is not going to have a long life like most of our yorkies. :(

Pepper is the sweetest most happy yorkie EVER ... They were told due to his illness that he would never see his 1st Birthday :( With his moms love - he just turned 2 in Feb.

Knowing Pepper is one of the biggest reasons I speak out so much about Pet Stores..... and I really would love people to give him just ONE MINUTE and read his story.....Then tell ALL YOUR Friends to never buy from the Pet Store so we can STOP THIS CYCLE.

THESE ARE HER WORDS....(love you Kathy) I still get teary reading about Sir Pepper ...my little HERO.

My name is Kathy and Sir Pepper is my yorkie. ....Pepper has a serious neurological illness called "cerebellar Abiotrophy" and there is no cure.

I bought him from a petstore (which has been put out of business!!! Thank God) then found out he came from a puppymill via the WORST puppy broker in the country...won't name names just because I am poor and can't afford to be sued just yet...waiting for the lottery to come in!

Anyway, Peppers illness is progressing, but he is a fighter and doesn't allow it to beat him down. The experts believe now that this is a genetic illness, both parents carry the gene, and that one of them has an active case of it. He looks like he is drunk when he has an episode (4 or 5 times a day now) so I call it "dingy".

My angel can't walk straight, sit, eat or drink without falling over. It used to be that when it happened he was aware and mentally all there, lately however, he has what I call "blank-outs" you can tell that he doesn't know what is happening or why or even who he is...I just hold him through it. They don't last long but they frighten him...and me.

I get very, very angry at the people whose greed caused him to go through this! But as I said he is a fighter...and before long he is back to playing like a puppy! He is such a sweetie and loves everyone! LOL sometimes a little too much. Though I have to admit that when he is hopping down the street on his hind legs to say hello to someone, I can't help laughing! And the smiles he causes where ever he goes! Guess you can tell I'm in love with my boy!
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ME AGAIN.......I hope just one person reads this and learns how awful Puppy Mills & Pet Shops are. This is one of MANY Stories out there - it just happens to be a good good friends story and my heart breaks for her.

I totally forgot PICTURES ! This is Pepper - look at that HAPPY HAPPY FACE !

I did the 2nd pic and love the caption - that's just what he did to me :)

oh gosh this is soo sad, sounds like he is such a sweetie ! Life is just soo not fair !

Pepper is one loved little man :)

Villette, thank you for posting this. We can NEVER have enough reminders and to see it in Pepper's little face and read his story should be enough for all of us to keep forth with our efforts to end puppy mills and pet stores!

Villette, I remember reading about Pepper. He's such a brave little guy! Hugs to Pepper!

Poor baby.

So sad about little Pepper. I use to go into Pet Stores just to see the puppies, but now, I'm not going to give those stores one more minute of my time. From now on I will say a little prayer as I pass for all the little ones inside.

He looks like such a happy little guy. His story is so sad :(

Awh poor little thing...big hug and kiss from me and my guys..

Such a sad story...

This is so sad yet amazing that Pepper has outlived the vets predictions on how long he would live. Pepper has such a sweet face. I think this would be a very good post for anyone considering getting a puppy from a petshop to see.

AWW how cute pepper is ..sending love and light to his family and friends ,I hope your story touches one more .

Here's to many more birthdays for Pepper!

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Thanks for posting this V. Puppymills are horrible things. But Pepper is a testament to the fact that dogs have great souls and can survive anything if they are given the chance. MAJOR kudos to Kathy! And may God give Pepper many more birthdays to celebrate!

Ahhhh, personal stories always seem to tug at your heart just a little more, don't they? Pepper is a cutie pootie. I swear he's grinning in that second picture, little devil indeed. I hope his illness doesn't progress too quickly, but then we are never "ready" are we? Here's a toast to his wonderful momma who loves him so very much. Take care, Pepper.

Oh how sad...
 

Thanks for sharing this, Villette. Hopefully it's enough to stop all YT puppy shoppers to avoid Pet Stores, as the ultimate cost (cash, heartache, pain, agony, and loss) is way too great. :(

Kudos to you, Kathy, for carrying on with Pepper\'s care and I am sure you cherish every day with your little guy. All the best to you. :ghug: