Bruno
Date posted: February 8
In November of last year I began looking at your website, and in mid December I feel in love with the picture of a very sad looking dog. Something about that picture drew me to the dog each time I visited the website. I spent the next several weeks attempting to convince my boyfriend that the dog was the right dog for us and our new house. In early January, I came to the shelter with my mother to “look” at that dog and several others that I had noticed on the website. As we walked around, the dog I was most drawn to was still the sad looking one in the picture. While my mom tried to convince me to take home a puppy, I just wanted to spend time with the shy dog in cage 17 that would begin to walk up to the front of the cage to see who was there, but got too scared and backed away. He was big. He was sad. And he just needed someone to love him.
My mom and I spent a few minutes “visiting” and “playing” with him in one of the rooms. It was obvious to both of us that the dog didn’t have the greatest life before he arrived at the shelter. He was extremely timid and cowered each time we moved towards him or raised a hand to pet him. He was very skinny for a dog of his size and build. His ear had a split in it about 1½ to 2 inches long. It was obvious to us that he’d been abused. Through all that he was a good dog and I couldn’t figure out why no one else had adopted him, especially after a family stopped by the visiting room and said how great a dog he seemed the many times they’d been in. I told my mom that there was no question in my mind that he was the dog I wanted, and after a few minutes on the phone with my boyfriend he was the dog that was going to come to our home.
I signed all the adoption paperwork that Sunday and was set to pick him up after his surgery on Friday. I was so excited. The very next day I took full advantage of the Petsmart coupon savings. I even got a name plate for his collar, keeping the name the shelter volunteers had given him, Bruno. I was very impatient during the week. I even brought the leash and collar with me to work so I was sure not to forget it at home on Friday. But Friday morning I got what seemed to be devastating news when the shelter vet called to tell me that a heartworm test came back with a high positive result. I didn’t know what to do. My family never had dogs that had major health problems. I tearfully made phone call after phone call looking for advice from my family and our trusted vet. I knew I couldn’t say no to this dog. After all, I’d been looking at him for weeks online. He was the dog. My excitement had turned to nervousness over the cost of the impending healthcare expenses and unsure prognosis for the dog.
I picked Bruno up on Saturday, because he was still a little too groggy from the surgery Friday evening. Bruno had weighed in at 76 pounds. He was afraid of everything. He jumped when we walked out to the car and heard the unlock “beep.” It took about five minutes and some help from some nice ladies who were on their way into the shelter for a visit to get him into the car. Once in the car he curled up on the floor behind the passenger seat and sat there very quietly as we rode to his new home. Upon arrival at the house he found a spot between our sofa and chair that he could hide away. He came out every now and then to check on what I was doing. He and I bonded during the day thanks in part to a few tasty treats. Later in the day when my boyfriend arrived home Bruno came out from his hiding spot and stood right in front of where I sat as if he were protecting his new owner from whatever may be coming into the house. It was clear that he was learning that he was safe. Bruno quickly bonded with both of us as we took turns feeding him, taking him on “walks” while he learned his boundaries in our nearly one acre yard, and playing with him and his toys.
We’ve worked out most of the housetraining, he’s learning commands such as “sit,” and “lay down,” he knows what the word “no,” and “good dog” mean, and is now playing in the big yard without a leash right behind him. He loved playing in all the snow that fell this winter, especially during February’s massive snowstorm when snow drifts were as high as his belly.
Now that the weather has broken Bruno loves to just lounge around in the yard. He can often be found resting in the sun while we are out in the yard working. He loves to run around and play with sticks and chase his ball across the yard.
Bruno’s health is doing well too after some minor road bumps. Shortly after bringing him home, we learned Bruno also had tapeworms. A quick trip to the vet cured that problem. We also learned that the small hairless area that was on his head was infected with skin mites. We treated the mites for several weeks and soon the hair began to grow back to the area. As for the heartworm, Bruno underwent treatment about two weeks after bringing him home. He spent two days away from us, and several visits back to the vet, but it was well worth it when we received the results of the final re-check on May 15: HEARTWORM FREE!! He also put on plenty of weight and is tipping the scales just over a healthy 100 lbs.
Bruno is still a bit shy and scared, but slowly beginning to adjust to people. Recently he’s been visiting the neighbors (and their dogs) and has made his first trip to the park. Bruno is a very happy and very loved dog. We want to thank all of you at the shelter for keeping him safe at your facility for as long as you did. I’m so glad that I came to visit when I did, because I know he didn’t have much time left there. Bruno is truly one of our best friends and a member of our family.
Thank you!
Nikki, Antonio & Bruno
P.S. We’ll be sure to bring Bruno for a visit soon.
