Celebration of Life

We didn't have any grand plans for Kelvin's 42nd birthday this month; however, when Pepper passed, he had the idea to do a celebration commemorating her life (and his).

Pepper was cremated and we got her remains last week.

Kelvin got a lot of Pepper-related gifts. 

Plaques for our garden

Sarah K doodled this lovely drawing! 

Sean and Zane also drew these by hand!

Our friends gathered for food and fellowship and time for a short eulogy by Kelvin and sprinkling of her ashes in a corner of our garden.

Kelvin opened a few more gifts on his actual birthday.

From Katherine

In the afternoon, we headed to Luffenholtz beach, another one of Pepper's favorite places and where we spent a lot of time during the Pandemic. We went there in October 2022 when we thought Pepper only had days left (but she made it almost another two years!).

a few more of her ashes were sprinkled into the sand

Sand script, by Iver 

Like the letters in the sand, her body has left us, but her memory lives on!  Birth and death, the cycles of life...

From a stranger to man's best friend (RIP, Pepper)

"With eye upraised his master's look to scan, 

The joy, the solace, and the aid of man;

The rich man's guardian and the poor man's friend,

The only creature faithful to the end."  

- George Crabbe

Pepper Vu

8-12-10 to 9-11-24

Our sweet fur-child, Pepper, crossed the rainbow bridge this morning at 08:50. While she has struggled with various health conditions in recent years, including becoming deaf and blind (we fondly called her Helen Keller Pepper), although her sight was briefly restored after cataract surgery in 2023, we knew that she would soon succumb to the inevitability of old age. She started as a cautious, nervous pup, scared of Kelvin (and strangers). She then turned into a yappy, happy, energetic pup who loved to hike with us and frolic on the beach. More recently, she settled into a pattern of afternoons and evenings spent snuggling on our laps or in her bed, needing to be lifted onto the couch and down the porch stairs, not being able to jump up or walk very far in the last few months due to arthritis. We celebrated her fourteenth birthday in August, which was pretty good for a shih-tzu, and she made it just about one month longer.

On Monday, we noticed (after Niall had a very sick, wheezy weekend) that Pepper was starting to wheeze/whistle some. It became more pronounced on Tuesday, despite still-good appetite; however, on Tuesday evening, breathing became labored and she was yelping, "crying" throughout the night, neither her (nor us) being able to sleep or rest. We knew she was suffering and knew that "it was time," especially as she was refusing food and drink the next morning.

Kelvin was able to get an emergency appointment with the vet, and, after the diagnosis of acute heart failure was confirmed, he consented to have her euthanized, which happened in just a few seconds, and she died in his arms. I was thankful Kelvin took her, and struggled throughout the day to concentrate and work, although seeing patients and attempting to heal others was somewhat of a welcome distraction. 

We (mostly adults) are truly heartbroken, and fresh grief is hard to work through. The only times I've ever seen Kelvin shed tears in our near-fifteen years together has been in relation to our dear Pepper's decline and today's passing.  While it was always I that pushed and really wanted to have a dog, Pepper truly became the great love of my husband's life (he says he's a "one and done" dog owner).  We are so grateful for all our friends' and family support today and over the years, and are especially thankful for our beloved Elise, Kelly, and Gloria and our parents, who have helped care for Pepper when we've traveled (which became impossible to do with her in later years).  This little, adventurous, sweet soul brought so much joy to our hearts over the past thirteen years since she came to us from Happy Camp, and we will remember her fondly.  Enjoy this trip down memory lane! 

Our fur-st baby comes home (Dec 2011)

Where's Waldo (Pep always loved to hide and snuggle in towels and laundry)

Beach (Lost Coast 2012)

Kayaking in Big Lagoon

Devil's Punchbowl hike 

Trinity Alps

Pep and the Pony, 2012

Pep and BFF Shabu (August 2012)

Waiting for us to return from work!

Back in the days when adults could relax whenever

She used to sleep with paws up!

Mt. Shasta, 2013

Bunny Flat

Pep in the Redwoods 

Riding (fake) horses!

Neighborhood friends

Roadtripping with Pep

Oregon Lava Butte

Whiskeytown Lake swimming

Pep at 30,000 feet - a great flier! 

Pep does International travel: British Columbia, Canada (2013)

SuperPep! (Halloween 2013)

Granddog!

McLean, VA 2013

2013 Shih-tzus (Remy, Henny) in SoCal

2014

Wai- Kiu's

The best Granddog (2014)!

High elevation Pep (Colorado, July 2014)

Dr. Pepper (Halloween 2014)

Growing family (November 2014)

Doula Doggie (December 2014)

"Five Days old in the Forest" (with newborn Iver, Dec 2014)

Newborn haze 'n days

Sleeping beauties (Jan 2015)

Pep and Pipsqueak (Jan 2015)

Tummy time! (April 2015)

Cider Rules (2015)!

Up Up and Away (August 2015)

Family Christmas (2015)

OC

Oscars Party (2016)

New Home (July 2016) 

Playful Pep

Iver & Pepper wait for Papa (2016)

Best buds

November 2016 Family

Halloween 2017

"Pepper Sandwich" 

Growing Family (2017)

Halloween 2018

Who wore it best? (Vanessa/Toccata on left)

2018 Redwoods Hike

Crawling Kisses (Nov 2018)

Carseat Snuggles

Ride 'em Cowboy (July 2019)

Best pals (July 2019)

Pandemic Pup (June 2020)

River Fun (June 2020)

Always finding the coziest spots

Happiness!

Never minded a little dress-up!

Grizzly Creek Camping (2020)

The OG Three (Oct 2020)

Crescent City (October 2020)

Brookings, OR (October 2020)

Hyatt Lake, OR (February, 2021)

Trillium Trail (April 2021)

Toddler snuggles & kisses (June 2021)

The Beach: her happy place (June 2021)

Bitten by a neighborhood healer

Redding Sundial Bridge (2021)

Stranded family @ Table Bluff County Park (July 2021)

October 2021

Lake Tahoe (Mt Judah hike) Nov 2021 

Sacramento November 2021

Winter 2021

Christmas (in OC), 2021

Doggie doc (2021)

Prairie Creek, 2022

Guthrie Creek (Mar 2022)

Admiring her favorite place: the beach

Grandparents Visit!

Mother's day, Sequoia Park (May 2022)

Still playful (Jun 2022)

We had a fake-out where we thought we'd lose her in October 2022.

However, she rose from the ashes.

Assistive steps

Sight Restored! (Jan 2023)

Pepper, on Prednisone, got very hungry in her older age.  Candy thief! 

Slowin' Down

(She didn't actually wear this but we thought about it!0

Celebrating fourteen! (August 2024).

Some still-great memories!

Loving' the snuggles

A patient patient

Fort House!

September 2023: meditating

These are our snaps of her last day

(struggling to breathe)

Last kisses

Not wanting food was the kicker.

Haunting photos of "her spots."

Pep's Steps

"Not the least hard thing to bear when they go from us, 

these quiet friends, 

is that they carry away with them

so many years of our own lives." 

- John Galsworthy

You will be missed dearly, my love. See you in heaven, sweet girl!