🚨 Dumped. Injured. Alone. Meet Pumpkin. 🚨
At 6:30 AM on April 16th, staff at SAINTS Rescue discovered something heartbreaking in the field beside our sanctuary: a senior shepherd mix, lying motionless on a towel. No collar. No leash. No microchip. No tattoo. No human in sight.
Just a sick, broken dog—abandoned.
We named her Pumpkin.
When our team approached, she didn’t try to get up. She couldn’t. Her hind legs were splayed behind her, and as we would soon learn, the reason why was devastating. Pumpkin was severely underweight, painfully matted, and had a large, ulcerated, leaking tumor on her lower abdomen. She winced when touched. The pain was obvious—and overwhelming. Despite a soft bed offered to her, she chose to lie on the cold concrete floor, likely seeking relief from the searing discomfort of the tumor. Or maybe she’d only ever known hard surfaces and hard days.
We rushed Pumpkin to the vet. Bloodwork revealed anemia and an elevated white blood cell count—signs of the infection and inflammation her body was fighting. X-rays confirmed a mammary mass. And while her condition was serious, there was a spark of hope: the veterinary team believed she was a candidate for surgery. And we believed she was worth every effort.
While she waited for surgery, Pumpkin remained under close observation in isolation at SAINTS. She started antibiotics, was gently shaved to remove thick, painful mats, and was put on a very slow, careful refeeding plan to avoid overwhelming her fragile system. Her tumour, meanwhile, grew more swollen and continued to leak. We weren’t sure she’d make it to her scheduled surgery. But Pumpkin never gave up. And neither did we.
Thanks to the incredible generosity of our community, we had the resources to give Pumpkin a real chance.
And she took it.
Pumpkin’s Surgery – A Turning Point
On April 22nd, Pumpkin underwent major surgery at Townline Veterinary Hospital—and we’re so relieved to share that it was a success. The tumor that was removed weighed nearly 2 kilograms. It was large, aggressive, and undoubtedly the cause of so much of her suffering. The surgery was delicate, but she came through it bravely.
Pumpkin is now recovering under careful watch, still on antibiotics and pain medication. A drain placed in her abdomen helps with healing and will be removed in the coming days. She’s tired. She’s sore. But she’s also safe, clean, and loved—and most importantly, she’s no longer carrying the weight that once held her down.
The road ahead is still long. Pumpkin’s body needs time to heal, and she’ll continue to require close monitoring, nutrition support, and emotional care. But for the first time in a long time, she’s headed in the right direction.
We’ll be with her every step of the way.
Pumpkin’s story isn’t over. It’s just beginning.
Stay with us as she recovers. She’s one of the lucky ones. And she’s finally home.
