Bruno

I should start out with some background, at least as much as I know. Bruno was seized and ultimately surrendered to the county as a result of a neglect case. He and his mate, Luna, and four six-month old pups, were kept in a basement room without food or water, living in their own excrement, inches deep on the floor. A bag of food was occasionally tossed in, unopened, and the dogs survived on that as best they could. The female, Luna, gave birth in the county shelter while the court case was pending to another litter of puppies, only three of which survived. The four six-month old pups from the prior litter have been placed in other foster homes. Luna is still with me, along with her three pups, who will adopted out after they are weaned. But Bruno is ready for a home now.

Bruno is such an easy foster that I've been neglecting him and focusing more effort on some of the other dogs. But it's time to get Bruno a home. He's got an appointment to be neutered on Thursday. I gave him a bath outdoors this afternoon. He was really good about it, no squirming or trying to get away. It probably felt good on a hot afternoon and it removed a lot of his old coat. Bruno has been eating well, with a lot of skin and coat supplements because he had been badly neglected in his former home and his coat was dull. He's also putting on some badly needed weight.

They were told by the former owner that Bruno is nine years old. I don't think he looks or acts like nine, but it seems that he had a better life at some point. Bruno is the most well socialized of the dogs that were seized, he is good with dogs and very outgoing with people. He was fantastic about the bath and he seems fine being crated. He has met all the dogs around here, including the fosters and has been good with all of them. He is prone to resource guarding, food especially, as a result of the neglect he suffered with the prior owner. Food, and even water, were scarce commodities in his former hellhole. When he first arrived here he had a tank full of water but still tried to guard it from the other dogs, not knowing if there would ever be more. He was the same way with food so I was feeding him in a crate when other dogs were around.

I think Bruno knew care and love at some time, however, because he's a very nice dog. He's friendly and outgoing. When I go to feed him he debates whether to go for the food immediately or try to get some petting and attention from me. He wants it and needs it, he's a German Shepherd. I don't know how long he lived in those horrific conditions, but he came through it with his sweet personality still intact. Bruno is available for adoption through Promises Animal Rescue.

You will notice that little tuft of hair under
his left eye. All I can say about it is that
it's unique.

Bruno was amazingly good about the bath.
I soaped him up a couple of times,
and rinsed him off thoroughly.

My elevated dog washing station is a real back saver.