LebTown features a different Lebanon County pet each Friday to help us enter the weekend with the best vibes possible.
This week’s pet is Pepper, owned by Mark and Megan Vachon of South Lebanon.
Pepper is a 7-year-old Swiss Mountain/Labrador mix who came to the Vachon household when she was a 1-year-old pup.
“She was a rescue out of a high-kill shelter in Georgia, rescued by her amazing foster parents Pam and Dale,” Megan explained in an email. “They fostered her during the summer of 2015 and by Labor Day weekend 2015 she was with us at home.”
For six years, Pepper would alternately chase or snuggle with her “fur sister,” a cat named Sami. Unfortunately, Megan said, “Sami passed at age 15 this past spring.”
Pepper was also “a loyal canine companion” to Megan’s parent’s golden retriever, until their dog fell terminally ill at age 12 in the spring of 2020, she noted. “Pepper loved nothing than to steal the retriever’s bones and her bed!!”
The cheerful pup has earned the nickname “Persistent” because it’s the word that best describes her, Megan said.
“She loves people and other animals and demands a quick hello, a pat on the head or some good ear scratchings,” she said. “She might even flop on her back and demand belly rubs. She will greet all our neighbors at the fence, and anyone who will greet her on a walk. She also loves a good ‘keep away’ with a tennis ball.”
Her first year was rough, Megan said, but the 80-pound pup has grown into a loving and grateful companion: “in part to those who rescued her and also due to the love of her family.”
She has daily rituals including a good walk (or two), her morning treats, bedtime snuggles “and a good stuffy to shred to bits,” she added. Pepper bolts for the car whenever she hears the keys jingle, and she’s become “kinda famous” at the local Rite Aid pharmacy and other drive-up retailers — including a nearby Dairy Queen, where she’s happy to savor a kiddie cup of vanilla ice cream.
“Pepper makes it hard to ever feel down about anything,” Megan concluded. “She’s at the door when you return home and wants … to be with us every minute. Pepper constantly has a doggy smile on her face and wakes up excited for life.”
Looking for a pet? Check out available adoptions at the Humane Society of Lebanon County.
To nominate your pet, email pets@lebtown.com and include:
- Your name and your pet’s name
- Pet’s breed if applicable
- A little about your pet and why they should be “Pet of the Week”
- And of course—pictures! Feel free to send high-quality attachments or a link to an online storage service.
LebTown’s Previous Pets of the Week
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