Enumclaw’s ‘Pumpkinpup’ Lucy killed by deer

Published 3:12 pm Thursday, July 30, 2026

Local celebrity Lucy the chihuahua was recently killed after attempting to chase a deer fawn off her lawn.

The dog, known to many as Pumpkinpup, was a staple around town and an unofficial mascot for Enumclaw abroad, her human Dave Hauge said.

Hauge and Lucy became fast friends after he adopted her around 13 years ago.

“She was a feral, living wild outside of town by the Enumclaw cemetery when I acquired her,” Hauge said. “I was at a dark time in my life and I can honestly say she brought light into it.”

The two would often be seen all around the Plateau. When they weren’t walking around downtown — Lucy was “recognized and welcomed in every business in Enumclaw,” Hauge said — they could be found carving giant pumpkins at Maris Farms, Thomasson Family Farms, Works Sports and Outdoors, Olson’s Meats, and anywhere else who wanted a Halloween-themed work of art.

Hauge and Lucy would also travel around the country for pumpkin, wood, ice, and sand carving and sculpting competitions, as well as on fishing and mushroom gathering trips.

“She soon became part of my carving performance, standing and posing on my sculptures,” he continued. “She was always the crowd favorite. She was a natural entertainer and loved to socialize and give kisses… she left pawprints on the hearts of everyone she ever met.”

Their fame reached its pinnacle in 2017, during the memorable Oct. 29 match between the Seahawks and the Houston Texans; Hauge and Lucy carved three pumpkins featuring both teams’ mascots and CBS’ logo to be on the jumbotron.

“Even my family in Norway saw the pumpkins and our names,” Hauge said.

He also credited Lucy for helping save the Enumclaw Chamber of Commerce’s annual Christmas parade when one was canceled during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and the height of social distancing.

“We decided to make our own float and parade down Cole Street so our town could keep the distinction of having the longest continuous running Christmas parade in the state,” Hauge said.

(It’s unclear if Enumclaw’s parade is, in fact, the longest continuous running at six decades, as it competes with the annual Christmas Ships Parade in Clark County, scheduled to have its 72nd parade this year, but it’s certainly nice to be in the running.)

The dynamic duo had to cut back on their travels when Hauge had a stoke and went blind in one eye two years ago. The artist has continued to carve pumpkins for local attractions and businesses, albeit perhaps a little less intricately.

On July 21, Lucy attempted to run a fawn off her lawn, which was not an uncommon occurrence around growing season amid Hauge’s orchard and vegetable garden.

However, this fawn was accompanied by its mother, who trampled Lucy; while deer would normally scatter at the sign of danger, females can become aggressive if they believe their fawn is in danger.

Hauge charged into the fight with his golf cart, but Lucy was mortally wounded and had to be euthanized two days later.

“I’m sharing her story and her demise as a community service, so that other pet owners will be educated on the dangers of getting between a mild mannered deer and their babies,” Hauge said.

Carving season is still a few months away, but Hauge is already making a special preparation for the first year without his partner in more than a decade: a cardboard cutout of his beloved Lucy.

“The show must go on,” Hauge said. “Lucy would have waned it that way.”

A celebration of her life at his farm will be announced at a later time. Hauge hopes locals will consider a dog food donation to Plateau Outreach Ministry in Lucy’s memory.