Sleep Tight Precious Pumpkin

I was very pleased to find this memorial section shortly after joining the forum. I lost my adorable little boy 'Pumpkin' in October, and have until now had no place to write a memorial for him. Pumpkin was quite easily one of the most adorable puppies I have ever seen in my life! My husband bought him for me in September, and when we went to collect him, it was love at first sight! He was so precious, and curled up in my lap at the breeder's house like he had been with me forever. His siblings were all full of beans and racing around untying our shoes and tugging our trouser legs..... but he was very content to sit curled up in my lap for a cuddle. In hindsight I realize that this was not a good sign. We brought him home, and on the way we named him 'Pumpkin', as he had a little round pumpkin face! We were both besotted with him. The first night he never made a peep, slept through quietly with no fuss at all. He initially ate quite well, and LOVED to be cuddled..... but remained very quiet, and slept a lot. After about a week, he began to seem unsteady on his feet. His eyes would scan back and forth, and over the next couple of weeks he gained no weight whatsoever. We were constantly back and forth to the vet with him. He had x-rays and blood tests and scans, he although he was put on antibiotics and steroids he continued to deteriorate. They finally found after much testing and several consultations and referrals that he had a severe congenital neurological disorder. He had by then reached the point where he would struggle to get to his feet, and then immediately roll over onto his side. His eyes began to roll up and down instead of side to side, which we were told was EXTREMELY rare, and of all of the vets that saw him, not one of them had ever actually seen a case of it before. We were told that there was no cure, and that he was basically going to continue to waste away over the next few days until he died. We then made the heartbreaking decision to let him go. We were absolutely devastated, and I still cry every time I look at his photos. We made SO many calls and e-mails and texts to the breeder...... but she refused to return any messages or acknowledge us, and to this day has refused any contact with us.

Rest In Peace, my sweet, adorable little Pumpkin. You were such a precious wee soul, taken from us WAY too soon. Run free at the Bridge, finally well and strong. Mummy loves and misses you SO very much, my little man.    xoxoxoxoxo   

I am so sorry to hear this. It is heart breaking to lose them but more so when they have only just arrived in this world. I know how you must be feeling as I have been through it myself. I can't comprehend the reason for a life to be given then taken away so soon but I know that by being in your life for however short a time he would have known love and that by the fact he has touched your lives he will stay in your heart forever.  RIP little Pumpkin you were truly loved and special xxx

Thank you so much for your kind words. I am SO sorry to hear that you have been through it too. It is SO cruel and unfair when they are so young.    *hug* xxx

So sorry to hear about your little one so so sad,it's hard when you lose oldies but at least you have lovely memories 
to lose a little pup is so devastating ,so sorry you have been treated so badly by the breeder thinking of you xx

Thank you so much. Yes, when they are babies, it is SO hard, and SO unfair. Even at Christmas I was thinking how he should have been celebrating his first Christmas with the rest of us, and hanging his stocking up beside the others.   If the breeder would have at LEAST had the decency to say 'I'm sorry', it would have helped a bit. x

I am so so sorry to hear about the heartbreak you suffered with little Pumpkin. I know it won't help at the minute, but I totally understand how you are feeling. I had a border collie pup who died in my arms the morning she was due to have heart surgery for a problem she didn't show any signs of at first. At the minute you feel very raw, but trust me, in time you will be able to think of your fur baby without shedding so many tears and you will remember the good times with him. The way you have been treated by the breeder is disgusting, and a simple sorry would have been a much better way of dealing with the situation. Big hugs to you, I know they won't replace the devastation you feel, but we are here for you if you need anyone to talk to.  

I am so sorry to hear about poor little Pumpkin, what an awful time you've had.  I do agree it's very hard when you lose a dog at any age but when they are so young and haven't even started to have a life it does seem every sadder.  I think it's awful that the breeder hasn't acknowledged your attempts to contact her, you would think she would be concerned about her puppies   

Lyn

Thank you all SO much! Your words help so much. I often think that only like-minded people REALLY understand when things like this happen. As for the breeder, I truly think that all she was worried about was me trying to get my £450 back. I know she was getting my e-mails and texts, as before he became really unwell I was sending her photos of him and updates, and she always replied straight away. As soon as I let her know that I had lost him and that it was to something that he had been born with..... and that I had run up a £900 vet bill along the way..... she immediately stopped responding to me. I am, in my heart, 99% certain now that she KNEW there was something 'not right' with him when I bought him.

My heart goes out to all of you who have had similar stories of heartbreak.   I hope that all of our little furbabies are running together playing at the Bridge now.   

xxx

I know right now you are grieving for poor Pumpkin, but really this breeder should not be selling puppies that she thinks could be sick.  Was she a recommended breeder?  I would be horrified to have bills of £900 and then to lose the poor puppy too.

Lyn

Have you had a chat with citizens advice or your solicitor. You may have recourse through small claims court. I know it won't bring Pumpkin back but the breeder does have responsibilities. Of course this might not be possible. If it's a reputable breeder they would want to know about hereditary problems and want to keep their good name and if it is a licensed breeder they have responsibilities or if it's a puppy farmer then the rspca might be interested tho I don't hold my breath on that.  Please can you send me a personal message telling me where you got to know about the breeder,  if they are kc accredited or recommended by a breed club, their name and location?

The breeder wasn't a puppy farmer, but she definately wasn't a kennel club accredited breeder..... she was asking ME how to go about registering the litter!!! She was very keen to let me have her sister come over and microchip him instead of taking him to my vet to have it done as apparently she's 'trained up to do that stuff'.....but I refused. I cannot prove that she knew the puppy was unwell....although I am sure of it in my own mind. Fortunately Pumpkin was insured, that was the very first thing I did when I brought him home....and thank God I did. As he was still on his '6 weeks puppy insurance', I could only claim £250 of his £450 purchase price back. I also had to pay a £100 deductable, on top of which we had to pay £90 for the cremation fees etc. So basically we lost not only Pumpkin, but £200 of his purchase price, and another £190 through insurance and cremation fees. I cannot claim any money back from the breeder as I have received a payment from the insurance company. I saw him advertised on Preloved online. The woman lives in Sheerness on the Isle Of Sheppey. x

I still think that is shocking, what a terrible breeder.  It's heartbreaking to lose a puppy like this, something no money can compensate for.  However if she was a responsible breeder she should make sure that you haven't lost out a penny financially.  It wasn't your fault that poor Pumpkin was ill and you obviously went above and beyond what many people would do to try to get him well   

Lyn

Many thanks Lyn, that means a lot to me. Yes, she was the worst of the worst, I'm afraid. I NEVER would treat anyone like this. It would have been absolutely devastating under the best of circumstances, but her failure to even acknowledge what had happened made it SO much worse. Finally being able to talk about it on here with people who understand is finally helping me to work through it. Thank you all SO much!  Jill x
 

It is quite possible that she didn't know he was ill.  He had a very rare condition.  But she should have had the decency to talk to you at the very least. What is worrying is that she will obviously breed again and if this is hereditary then it is going to happen to someone else. 

I hope that you are able to find closure so that you can grieve for your little boy and in turn remember him for the lovely little soul he was and is. At least he was in your loving care. Had she been left with him on her hands who knows what sort of care he would have had if any.  You gave him your best and his love will be with you forever xxx

Thank you, it means a lot!   

My husband and I vowed from the start that we were not going to give up on him until we were positive that everything had been done that was possible, and that there was absolutely no hope. He was a dear, sweet, loving little innocent, and he deserved SO much better than the incredibly short life that he was given. He slept cuddled between us at night, and I take comfort in the fact that he knew how much he was loved.   

This is me and Pumpkin about a week and a half before we lost him.   

That is a gorgeous photo and clearly shows the amazing love you had for each other. If I were you, I would have it printed, put in a lovely frame and displayed somewhere you can look and remember Pumpkin every time you pass.   

Lovely photo and great idea from sujay if you haven't already done it. What a lovely little boy he was xxx

Actually, I haven't done that! But a really lovely idea, and think I WILL do it now! I love this pic, as with all of his fluff you can't tell how incredibly skinny he was.       But when I look at this photo I can still remember what it felt like to cuddle him, and his sweet little kisses.         

Aw xxx

Bless you, so very sad.

Hi,
What an utterly heart breaking ordeal. Obviously the breeder must have been in it for the money only. How could they.
If the breeder was asking you how to register her litter, that rings alarm bells.
Pumkin was an adorable little soul and im so so sorry to hear of this terrible story.
May pumpkin run free at rainbow bridge, free of pain and illness & have all the love & kindness deserved.

Thank you SO much!   I keep watching all the classifieds to see if this woman breeds and advertises again. If she DOES..... she'll be hearing from me!    xxx

I am so sorry to hear your heartbreaking story,
I've read your posts with tears running down my face   It is obvious that Pumpkin was truly loved during his short life and he was so lucky to have you to look after him and do everything possible to try and help him.   He will always live on in your heart and I think the photo idea suggested by Sujay is a great idea. Run free sweet baby Pumpkin   x