Sweetpea — the tiniest dog to ever grace Puppy Bowl — passed away at just four months old. The adorable pup breathed her last on Nov. 20, 2023, a few weeks after the recording of Puppy Bowl 2024 took place.
How did Puppy Bowl’s Sweetpea die?
According to USA Today, Sweetpea died because of complications from a deformed kidney. Sadly, the 1.7-pound Cavapoo passed away while on the way to a veterinarian for a checkup.
Since her birth in Jul. 2023, Sweetpea had quite a number of health problems. The precious pup suffered from hydrocephalus, a neurological disorder characterized by the excess buildup of spinal fluid in the brain. Moreover, Sweetpea had a congenital heart defect that left her with a hole in her heart.
Jennifer Siegel, the founder of Bosley’s Place Rescue in Georgia, explained Sweetpea’s health issues to WLBT3 News “Sweetpea came to us at just a few hours old. She was about 20% the size of her siblings. She had hydrocephalus, “Siegel stated, adding “She also had a hole in her heart.”
Sweetpea was among the four rescue dogs from Bosley’s Place rescue who participated in the Puppy Bowl 2024. When she reached eight weeks old, her health significantly improved. Furthermore, her heart was in good shape by the time she got selected to compete in Puppy Bowl 2024.
Recalling how delightful Sweetpea was, Siegel shared: “Even though she only lived for four months, she really had an incredible, full, touching life, and she inspired a lot of people.”
Sweetpea’s death has shattered the hearts of thousands online. Many had instantly fallen in love with the charming pup the moment she made an appearance at Puppy Bowl 2024.
Animal Planet took to X to share the news of Sweetpea’s tragic passing. The post read: “Sweetpea was rescued by a shelter that specializes in helping special needs puppies. Sadly, she was unable to overcome her health issues. We dedicate #PuppyBowlXX to her memory.”
