Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein.—Psalm 96:12 (KJV)

My husband, Don, and I intended to get another dog soon after our golden chow died, but Don’s failing health and death intervened. Months later, I tried a shelter dog. She attacked and killed my daughter’s beloved Maltipoo, Drake, leaving us brokenhearted. So I decided to remain dogless; I wouldn’t risk another tragedy. 

Then a veterinarian friend called. “I have the perfect dog for you,” she said. “Pepper is a short-haired mixed breed with stand-up ears. She’s gentle, spayed, housebroken, and leash trained. Her owner can’t continue caring for her.” 

So I brought Pepper home . . . and quickly discovered she wasn’t quite perfect. She was extremely destructive when left alone; separation anxiety, I was told. She destroyed three door moldings, two ballpoint pens, my reading glasses, several books, a sofa pillow, and a wicker basket of dried flowers, plus damaging other items. When I crated her, she bent the wires and escaped. The evening I left her in the garage, she ate the air-compressor hose. It took her ten minutes to dig out of the fenced dog run in my yard and two hours to destroy the flower-bed irrigation system. 

But Pepper has one huge redeeming quality: she is joyful. She runs happy circles around the yard; adores going for walks; and wiggles with excitement when we go for pickup rides or company comes. So I’m helping her learn boundaries and good behavior. And she’s teaching me to take risks, step out in faith, and rediscover joy!