Bruno, a dog with one ear staying at North Carolina’s SPCA of Wake County, decided to make his “best friend” look just like him. And because of it, he’s now got a dad to look after him.
Photos of Bruno’s handiwork went viral after SPCA of Wake County shared photos of the pooch with his newly one-eared stuffed toy. “Bruno tore one of the ears off his favorite stuffed toy — the same ear he’s missing himself,” the shelter wrote on Facebook. “The staff member who found this couldn’t believe it, so she took these photos to show the rest of our team.”
The staff shared how Bruno’s past was far less sweet and that the way he lost his ear the furthest thing from cute.
“Bruno used to live chained up outside, and his ear was torn off when another dog attacked him, and he couldn’t run away,” the shelter shared. “But Bruno knows there’s nothing wrong with him, and now he has a best friend just like him to prove it. You’re perfect just the way you are, Bruno.”
The SPCA told FOX10 that Bruno “came from a difficult situation” where he was tied up outside the entire year, through “freezing winters” and “hot N.C. summers,” and couldn’t escape his suffering.
His life outside also impacted his health. “Bruno has heartworm disease from all his days living outside, but thanks to your generous support, SPCA Wake is able to provide Bruno’s full course of treatment over the next few months! Heartworm disease is serious and very life-threatening — unfortunately affecting thousands of shelter dogs in NC each year, making it much, much harder for them to find homes.”
The shelter quickly pointed out that despite the hardships he has endured Bruno is kind and sweet.
“You would never know he had such a tough start to life — despite his pouty eyes, he’s a very happy and loving guy, and his tail absolutely never stops wagging!” SPCA staff told FOX10. “He’s well-behaved, cuddly, and very smart.”
They added that he still likes other dogs and loves every person he meets.
Bruno’s endearing photos spread like wildfire online and the original post was shared over 50,000 times on Facebook. One man that read Bruno’s story decided the dog was the one for him.
“And just like that, Bruno has a new dad,” the SPCA wrote of the happy tails news. “Of course, his matching stuffie HAS to go with him so they can be buds forever.”
And go with him, the toy did as the SPCA shared in Bruno’s Freedom Walk video.
The shelter also shared that, “Bruno’s adopter loves him just the way he is and promised to show Bruno nothing but unconditional love for the rest of his life.”
To help with Bruno’s treatment and save other heartworm dogs like him, you can make a donation spcawake.org/donate.