Big Billy Pompom

**Pompompoms** · 08-27-2013, 11:38 AM

Billy passed away on Sunday 25.08, he had been fighting an infection for ten days, but there was nothing to suggest the bridge was calling him. He had a huge stroke in the morning, then something ruptured inside him and he had to be rushed to the emergency vet as he was clearly suffering. He lost consciousness and didn't flinch when injection was given. That's how my big fluff passed, but this is how he lived.........

On the 19th of July 2011 the tiny squeaks from Lilly's huge nest told me the latest generation of poms had arrived. Little husky lady Lilly and handsome white boy Whizzbit had four little pups, and for the first two days everything was fine. On the second day we lost a pup, and Lilly didn't cope well at all. She started moving the remaining three babies every half hour, running around with them, shaking them and leaving them out in the open. There was nothing to be done but draw the curtains, shut the door and hope for the best. I snuck in with food and water once a day, and after a few days Lilly settled again.
By a week old the pups had enough fur for me to see I had two whites and one husky, then at a week old we lost the white boy, and were down to two. Lilly coped well this time, and at twelve days old with eyes with eyes just open, I snapped my two little ones for the first time.

Little Billy as he was then giving his sister Minxie a cuddle

The two of them were soon up and running about, always together, and Lilly did a great job raising them. They were calm, friendly and beautiful from the word go.

Billy was going to be my keeper from this litter as Minxie was to be going to another breeder to help establish a white line. My little husky boy was so special to me from the very beginning, the one remaining from a really stressful litter, and my first that I'd had any problems with.
Billy moved in with his big uncle Dasher at four weeks old, and was smitten with him from the off. he rarely left his side, and Dasher cared for him so well.

In time he was joined by four Agouti cousins, and two baby brothers, and for a while I kept a colony of eight boys, amazing as they all hit puberty at various times, but with big Dasher at the head there was never any trouble. Snuggling and playing was all anyone was really interested in.

Billy always made sure he had prime spot

I settled Billy and Dasher together as a pair when Billy was about five months old, they were lovely together, Billy wasn't so little anymore.

In fact at seven months Billy was looking really rather large, and showing signs of what was to come........

Robos stop growing in length at around six months old, they then spend about another six months filling out with muscle, males especially. Billy grew and he grew and he grew and by a year he was 54g with empty pouches!!!!!!!! I don't know for sure but I have never heard of a bigger robo, my gentle giant was just beautiful, and very very large.

Sometimes it's hard being massive, especially when it's hot!

I thought Billy was beautiful, but it was lovely that he did so well in shows too. He didn't mind showing at all, he'd settle down for the day, have a slow amble about for the judges, then doze off again in his show pen. Being a husky robo he was in the non standard dwarf class with all other non standard dwarfs of all species, so I was very proud when he did so well. He wasn't too bothered about winning, he did like the pumpkin seeds though

**Pompompoms** · 08-27-2013, 11:39 AM

In the autumn last year the lovely Tallulah came to live with Billy, and I crossed my fingers for a new generation of pompoms. I think Lulah may have lost her first litter as she showed all signs of pregnancy, but then thinned out again, but second time around I was thrilled when eight little poms entered the world, and all made it through. The largest litter I've had while breeding, I think Billy would have been very pleased about that.

Five of the little lovelies together here, but in total six boys and eight girls, six little huskies and two white boys.

At four weeks old the boys moved in with Billy, it was a bit of a surprise to him initially, but he took his fatherly duties very seriously giving instruction from the sand pit, and turning a blind eye to the bedlam that went on around him.

When all pups were grown Billy and one of his white sons Rascal settled down together, they were such a beautiful pair known, as big fluff little fluff. Rascal has inherited his dad's relaxed gentle temperament, although he could move at about four times the speed which was confusing for Billy at times, as Rascal would be behind him, and in the time he'd turned round Rascal would have done an entire loop of the cage and down again, and be back where Billy had started! Rascal adored his dad and would sleep so peacefully snuggled up to him. You could see how safe and content he was, and Billy doted on his boy even though he was a whirlwind!

Over the summer as he approached and went through his second birthday Billy started to have some health issues, he had surgery for a lump, then some nasty complications. I had to wake him four times a day and remove all poo from the wounds from surgery which would have been so uncomfortable for him. He also got an infection which meant draining two lumps on his abdomen twice a day, and twice daily medication. I think to get what Billy was like, seeing that not once through all of this did he nip, get agitated, or become unfriendly, shows that he really was such a friendly happy boy.

Billy lived out his last eight weeks alone as all the treatment had meant him being in and out from Rascal so I thought it better to leave him out as Rascal was too unsettled while he was away and I knew with Billy's age he would have to get used to it in the end. He was my big beautiful boy right till the end, he actually never went below 45g which is big for a male in his prime let alone over two. He still got so much out of life, although he wasn't too impressed when I bopped him on the head with an ice cube on his 2nd birthday!

He was such a special boy, the day he passed the only thing that comforted him was being held against my skin, he would stop squeaking and calm. It was the same after his surgery, he glued himself to me and refused to even move for twenty minutes. When I got him to the vet on Sunday I had him wrapped in a little blanket, he was squeaking and clearly distressed. I unwrapped him, cupped my hand round his body and spoke to him soothingly , he lifted his ears, looked at me and gave a little cheap totally different from his cries of pain, then he lost consciousness.

Final cuddle on Sunday, snoozing peacefully.

Big Billy fluff you will never be forgotten, funny, gentle, huge and fluffy. Loved by everyone that met you, and a true heart ham. Play well beautiful boy, join the pompom hamily at the bridge and we will meet again one day. Rascal Paddington and Tinks are a credit to you, and you have passed on so many of your amazing traits to them. I miss calling you and see you trundling out, I miss your big cuddles, and I miss bright shining eyes. Love you big fluff xxxxxxx