Rest In Peace, Pumpkin

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rip-pumpkin

Friends, my sweet angel of a dog passed on October 26, just 5 days shy of her 12th birthday. Judy and I have been grieving since, and while we know time will soften this loss, Pumpkin will always live in our home and in our hearts.

There will come a time when I write a story about her, explaining in more detail who she was and what she meant to us, but that time is not yet. Thank you all for caring.

206 thoughts on “Rest In Peace, Pumpkin”

  6. I am so sorry, Mike. She was such a resilient love… a beauty in every way. I am still grieving Zoe (since June) and I continue to feel lost without her. There are no words of comfort, but as you say, time softens the loss. Take care of yourself, Mike.

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      • I wish I had some comforting words, my little dog is ten now, I can’t bear to think of not having him around. My heart goes out to you and yours Mike.

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      • The only thing that comforts me is knowing that time will soften this loss. I spent years wondering how I would handle losing Pumpkin, and it is just as hard as I imagined.

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      • It is very difficult to say good bye to an old friend, a family member, who loved us so unconditionally. You gave her such a wonderful life and the amazing thing about these beautiful animals is that is all they want for and so many do not get. Take comfort in the joy that you gave her and received in turn.

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  15. I grieve with you, Mike. Even if we know that that dreadful day is just around the corner, it is always a shock to us when it finally arrives, isn’t it? I can well understand that it will take you (quite) some time before you can write her story. With our Buster it took me a full two years. As you say, time will soften our sadness, but we’ll always cherish the memories of our four-legged friends.
    Take care,
    Pit

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  16. Sorry for your loss Mike. It’s never easy dealing with the loss of man’s best friend. She will always be in your memories. Honour her and make them happy ones. I’m sure that’s what she wants. One love brother.

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  21. I’m so sorry for your loss Mike. I know how much she meant to you. She was such a sweet dog. May her memory live on forever in your hearts. I always loved reading about her adventures and will miss that. Take care my friend.

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  23. I’m sad to hear about your loss Mike. I know how much you loved your beautiful Pumpkin. Every post you had with her on it was full of real love. I’ve been through this situation when I lost my pet to sickness and I’m not ashamed to admit that I cried. It leaves a vacuum in your heart! I’m sorry my friend!

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    • No man should ever be ashamed about crying about anything, let alone the loss of someone you love. I did so love my beautiful Pumpkin. Life will go in, but something wonderful will be missing. Thank you.

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  34. So sorry for your loss, Mike. I know how you adored sweet Pumpkin. Having lost two of my kitties this summer, I understand how it hurts to the core. Much peace to you and your Judy at this time.

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  44. Now that we’ve fallen head over heals for our golden I appreciate even more what you are going through. Pumpkin’s occasional pictures on your blog put the idea of getting one for our foster daughter into my mind. Your pictures have made a little girl very happy. Thanks, Mike and I’ll be praying for you and your wife!

    Love,
    A

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    • How nice Adrienne. I used to work with kids in foster care, but that is another story. No doubt this little girl deserves all the happiness she can get and I’m thrilled Pumpkin helped inspire getting her dog.
      Thank you.

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  45. I’m so sorry for your loss. It’s always painful losing a loved one. I’ll probably never get over losing my Nash. But I’m so blessed that he was in my life and now lives in my memories. I’ve enjoyed seeing all the photos of your beautiful Pumpkin–they brightened my day. Thoughts and prayers for you and your wife.

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  51. I’m so very sorry for your loss. Pumpkin was a beautiful girl and clearly a dear friend, it is only right that you grieve for her. In time, the happy memories she has given you will come to the fore.

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  52. So sorry for your loss of your beloved fur-kid sweetie! I always loved the photos you shared of sweet Pumpkin as I am an avid dog lover! Sending you and Judy hugz in you time of healing from Pumpkins loss! I would love to read your story about sweet pooch! Bear send hugz and love as well! Lisa and Bear

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  53. Mike and Judy. My thoughts are with you both. There is something special about the memories of Pumpkin that will always remain. In time you will have a way to remember your girl. Beautiful gentle dogs are never forgotten. Take care.

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  57. I am so sorry. A couple of years ago, our saluki Niko moved on and we still feel his spirit in our midst. I wrote a farewell love letter to him (posted on my blog), and dream about him sometimes. We are fortunate to have such loving members of our family. My thoughts are with you.

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  58. Oh, I am so so sorry for your loss, Mike. The photographs of Pumpkin you have posted here have been really special and have shown how much you love her. Thank you for sharing her with all of us. You will be in my thoughts.

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  63. I had felt very badly from your previous post that Pumpkin was struggling and wish you much comfort in all the truly great memories you have of times shared over the years with her. She was indeed such a sweet dog and I have appreciated all your tender posts about her as your reader. Your love and joy were so easy to see. I guess that is why we readers feel the news so much. When the time is right, I would love to hear the story you would write of your times together. Wishing you and Judy peace in all the wonderful memories.

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  66. Oh Mike we have been away in Mexico and just back on the grid. This brings my sincere sympathy. My heart sank at reading your post. As odd as it sounds I had come to love, albeit virtually, sweet Pumpkin. What a much loved pup she was with you and your wife. Sending big hugs.

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    • Thanks for always being Pumpkin’s friend Sue. And mine too, for that matter. She is missed terribly but she was in so much pain, and now she is not, wherever she might be. I’ve had a tearful week, but it is getting better, as these things always do.

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      • Such a sad thing to see them in pain and even though one can logically see the sense of her being at peace the heart break is no less. About five years ago our wee dog Bruiser left us. I had thought I would be all stoic but cried for days. Each day a bit better and I hope for you too that gradual healing of the hole sweet Pumpkin leaves behind. Xo

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      • Each day here is a bit better too but I suspect that I will be able to get sad about it for the rest of my life. That said, life goes on.
        Even though she was in so much pain, she never lost her sweetness or desire to be around us. She was remarkable in a thousand ways but her loving us as hard as she did was just so amazing.
        xo

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      • Mike what a beautiful tribute to Pumpkin. Yes I think she will forever be a missing piece of your heart. I tear up as I write. That sweet pup touched lives she never even knew. Hugs across the miles.

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    • Deep grief. Last thing I think about at bedtime, and first thing in the morning. Life is about love and loss, as much as anything else. It affirms painfully.
      Thank you Lisa.

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      • I so sympathize. Our collie had some kind of an episode recently, and we thought it was the end. Talk about tears! But he pulled out of it and is okay. But . . . it will come. šŸ˜¦

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      • Lilly, the truth is that I loved Pumpkin so much that for years I would find myself weeping at bedtime just thinking of a time she wouldn’t be here anymore. Then I would shake out of it, reminding myself that she is here, and seemingly healthy. Then when we did lose her, I cried for days. I’m crying right now. I don’t really think I’ll ever get over it, not this time and with that dog. She was pure joy and total love with an incredible love of life and joyous disposition. I’ll miss her for the rest of my days.

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      • I understand. Since our episode, both Kell and I are always aware we are on borrowed time with him. We have loved all our pets, but he is the only one who lived in the house with us. When Kell was gone for a week, he really missed him. I was in bed with a migraine, and I heard the dog on the other side of the bed but couldn’t see him. I raised my head, and there he was looking at me with his head on Kell’s pillow. Sigh. I do not relish the pain you are living in right now. May you find peace. Glad you have so many sweet pics of her.

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  71. Mike,
    Your photographs of Pumpkin over the years are a wonderful memorial to her and the mutual love you enjoyed. She was a marvelous creature and brought much happiness to us all! (I looked at all your posts of her by way of mourning–I think my favorite was the one you took of her nose.) Her majesty and sweetness are beautifully preserved in the picture above.
    I feel your loss.
    Susan

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    • What a lovely thing to read, 3 weeks after my post.
      I think about her all the time, and still find myself overwhelmed with her loss, but it is getting easier every day. I know with certainty that on my death bed I will hold out hope that maybe I’ll get to see her again and hold her and kiss her and smell her. As I type I know it is a long shot, but in the unknowing of almost everything, why not keep it as a possibility.
      Judy and I are moving through this loss together and that makes me a very lucky man, just like having that big (85 lbs) sweet Pumpkin for 12 years was such a blessing. Your thoughtful comment means the world to me.Thank you Susan.

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  72. Late as always am I but I am sorry for your loss Mike. Pumpkin made my day whenever she Graced our feed. It has been a little over a month since My Bride and I had to let our boy go but no day passes we don’t miss him. Thanks for sharing her with us Mike.
    Peace to you and yours My Friend~John

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  74. Mike, I am so deeply sorry to see this post. Tears instantly came to my eyes. I loved seeing your photos of Pumpkin and reading about her sweet personality and your deep love for her. I read some of the previous posts and you mentioned that you cried just thinking about the day you would sadly be without her. We did the same and now it has been 5.5 years without our little dog. She was truly everything to us and the grieving was very, very hard on both my husband and me. But it brought us closer, even after 24 years of marriage. We have not been able to become dog parents again. But maybe someday… I hope that soon your wonderful photos of Pumpkin will make you and Judy smile. The love you shared with her was beautiful. And as you wrote, she is still with you in your heart and your home. ā¤ļø to you and Judy.

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    • What a beautiful comment. Like you and your husband, we are struggling with her loss and even after a month we still are weepy and sad. We will get through all this together but we know we will never really get over her not being here. Like you, we had an incredible bond and she was just so wonderful and loving. She pushed through some terrible pain to stay as long as she did and finally it became too hard to watch her suffer, but she was still loving until her last breath.
      Thank you Karen, your comment touches me deeply.

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  75. So sad to read this Mike. It brings back what we felt last winter with Bumble’s passing. Their love is most precious. A few months after he passed I heard a ‘voice’ in my mind. It said ‘give a home for another homeless dog’. And Dylan (who had been literally left on the street) walked into our life. What a blessing he has been.

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    • Every living thing dies. Sometimes, with luck, it is because they just got old, and with a bit more luck, they were loved well.
      We had a great twelve year romp with her, and we were all lucky.
      Thank you Tiny.

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  76. Really, really sorry to read this Mike, it was so obvious in so many of your posts how much Pumpkin meant to you. You’ll have many photos and memories to look back on, and we’ll miss your posts about her. Keep your chin up.
    BIG hugs xx

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  77. I see you haven’t posted in a while. I understand. I thought of you yesterday when we learned my hubby’s sister was having to put down her horse. She has had him for 22 1/2 years. That’s a lot of loving. It is hard to lose our beloved pets.

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  80. I’m so sorry to hear your news Mike. This is a very late comment and my apologies for that. I have been traveling a great deal. I know how much Pumpkin meant to you both and I know how hard it is when a member of the family dies. This is a beautiful photograph and one I’m sure you will treasure. My thoughts are with you.

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  83. I don’t know how in the world I missed this. I was looking at a photo of my Bella and just thought of your sweet Pumpkin. I’m so very sorry for your loss…and sorry that I am so late in saying it. I hope that Bella was there to greet Pumpkin and introduce her to all the doggie friends on the other side of the rainbow bridge…where she waits for you.

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    • I wondered if I would hear from you, and it brings me some measure of joy that I have. We are not doing well with losing Pumpkin and not a day goes by that I am not in tears. It is such a heavy loss for us. We have a quiet life…..not much going on, and she was a large presence.
      Thanks for this, it means a great deal to me. I can only hope that at some point the universe allows me to at least reach out and touch her…..kiss her…..feel her big wet tongue. What a great gift she was.
      (why does your name appear as “someone”) It is Audrey, yes?

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  84. I’ve gotten so behind with reading blogs and having just read about Pumpkin I wanted to say how sorry I am for your loss. She was a beautiful girl, obviously much loved and having lost our old girl in September I truly understand the huge void that they leave in our lives. Thinking of you.

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  85. Oh no, I’m very late to arrive at this post Mike. I’m so sorry for the loss of your sweet girl last October. I guess it’s been almost a year. I hope time is healing your wound but knowing how hard it is to lose a pet, makes my heart break for you. I sure never get over our Buddy. I’ve been thinking about you and your girl. Take care. Kelly

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    • Well hi there Kelly. Yes, its been awhile but in truth I am still grieving in a very large way. We were so connected. I knew the day would come, and then it came very quickly. Thank you for this.

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  86. I’m so sorry for your loss of Pumpkin. I feel your pain… I recently loss my golden, Maximus. In time the pain will soften but the wonderful memories will forever etched in your heart. Take care.

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    • I am very sorry Emily.
      Yes, time has softened the loss but I still miss her terribly and it does not take much for me to come to tears. She was the dog of my life.
      I find that there is that happy place where her memories can play without the overwhelming grief. I do know that having her for 12 years was very special.
      Again, so sorry for your loss of Maximus.

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      • Sorry, I didn’t notice the date on your post at all.

        I fell in love with Ollie when first we met in 2009. He’s my partner’s mother’s long haired Retriever. I hate saying this, but she doesn’t deserve this most gentle of souls – it’s a long story. Ollie too is heading towards 12. šŸ˜¦

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      • Me too but I haven’t seen him for 18 months now and miss him very much.

        The part I miss about my gypsy lifestyle is having a dog – it’s just too selfish when I’m never in one place long enough.

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      • Sadly, I think it would be too difficult to travel long-term with a dog.

        You may not want to at the moment as technically, I can’t leave Italy until my new visa arrives in my hand. It’s just over 4 months since submitting my renewal and still nothing. My first visa took 5 months from submission to receiving the card in my hand. This was after returning to Australia to apply for a 12-month visa, then having to reapply here within 8 days of landing. It’s been really difficult as a non-EU citizen, but I’m sure you know the rules. Onwards and upwards! šŸ˜‰

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