Living the canine life can be a true gift – a cozy home, a caring family, and plenty of affection from their favorite humans are all that these adorable companions desire.
Sadly, not every dog is fortunate enough to experience such a joyful existence, as many must survive on their own or, at best, reside in a no-kill shelter where compassionate staff takes care of them.
A pup named Bruno faced a similar fate when the team at Colonial Heights Animal Control in Colonial Heights, Virginia, discovered him, along with his sister and another dog, on the shelter grounds.
While the other dog was quickly adopted, Bruno and his sister’s journey was far from a happy ending.
Cruelly Abandoned
The Colonial Heights Animal Control staff discovered four-year-old Bruno and his sister, Justice, in March 2023. According to their Facebook post, these two Pit Bull mixes were left outside their facility and were never claimed.
Initially, the shelter described Bruno as a solid black Pit Bull mix who was quite anxious when they first encountered him. However, they noted that this sweet boy began to warm up the more they interacted with him.
While they highlighted that Bruno required extra time to acclimate to other dogs and should not be around cats and small children, they also praised his affectionate nature.
“Once Bruno gets to know you, he shows so much affection. He loves being with his person, relishes belly rubs, and thrives on affection,” they shared.
Regarding Justice, the staff noted that “she also needs a meet and greet with any dogs in the home,” but that she loves playing with her toys, enjoys walks, and absolutely adores cuddling next to her favorite person to receive kisses.
Despite the extensive promotion on social media, this canine duo remained overlooked at the shelter for an extended period. Finally, after waiting for 473 days, when the shelter staff began to lose hope, a glimmer of light appeared for at least one of them.
Opportunity for a Brighter Future
On July 10, 2024, Colonial Heights Animal Control shared the joyous announcement on their Facebook post. Following an introduction detailing Bruno’s story, they joyfully stated that he was finally leaving the shelter.
The non-profit organization Ring Dog Rescue from Richmond, Virginia had been keeping an eye on Bruno for some time before deciding to provide him an opportunity to start anew.
“A representative from Ring Dog Rescue recognized this sweet boy’s potential and arranged for him to get a spot at a board and train facility!” the shelter noted in their post.
Ring Dog Rescue specializes in saving, rehabilitating, and placing Pitbull-type dogs into loving homes, and due to their success, there’s every reason to believe that Bruno will find his happiest ending sooner rather than later.
The shelter also mentioned that Ring Dog Rescue would be addressing Bruno’s health issues, including his heartworm condition and some ACL problems.
Finally, they expressed gratitude to Ring Dog Rescue and everyone who supported Bruno on his journey to a new beginning.
“After over a year of Bruno being here, he said his goodbyes yesterday and headed to his new life! We wanted to extend a massive thank you to Ring Dog Rescue for providing him this remarkable opportunity to find a loving family he truly deserves,” they shared.
We wish Bruno all the best in his new chapter, just as we hope for a happy ending for his sister soon.
