Bruno’s life had been marked by hardship from the very beginning.
He had never known the comfort of a home or the warmth of a loving touch. What he did know was fear, neglect, and pain.
For days, Bruno wandered along a busy mountain road in Georgia, narrowly avoiding passing cars. With each step, he seemed to lose a little more hope. Deep down, he longed for kindness, but it never came.
Until one day, everything changed.
A Rescue That Revealed Deep Pain
Audray Luck, founder of Luck’s Rescue in North Georgia, spotted the large dog standing in the middle of the road. Alarmed, she pulled over and ran toward him.
But Bruno wasn’t ready to be saved. As soon as she approached, he bolted into a nearby field, trembling with fear.
That’s when Stephanie, Audray’s friend and fellow rescuer, stepped in. Known for her calming presence with animals, Stephanie slowly gained Bruno’s trust. Bit by bit, the frightened dog allowed them to come closer.
Just when they thought the worst was behind them, Bruno collapsed in the grass, too weak to lift his head.
“Bruno had completely given up and as I started to examine him on the side of the road I knew he had a very rough life,” Audray wrote in an Instagram post.
A Body Scarred By Suffering
The rescuers gently placed Bruno in their car and rushed him to the vet. What they learned was devastating.
Bruno wasn’t facing one illness, he was battling many. He tested positive for heartworms and ehrlichiosis, and his body was covered in ticks. Vets also discovered two painful holes in his gums caused by a stick that had been lodged in his mouth for months.
Then came the most shocking discovery.
X-rays revealed Bruno had been shot. His body held over a hundred pellets. Somehow, he had survived.
Given the extent of his injuries, it was a miracle he was still alive.
At Audray’s home, Bruno finally found peace. He spent most of his time sleeping, no longer afraid. For the first time in his life, he felt safe.
Choosing Love Over Fear
If one word could describe Bruno, it would be resilient. Despite everything he had endured, the light in his eyes never faded. Beneath the pain, his heart remained open.
“He knows suffering all too well and he chooses love every day,” Audray wrote in another post.
Bruno’s gentle nature soon caught the attention of a woman interested in adopting him. Unsure how he’d respond to her son, she chose to foster him first. Within just three days, she had her answer.
“They knew within three days that they were going to adopt him. And we’re just so happy that he never has to know suffering ever again,” Audray told Cuddle Buddies.
Bruno now has a family. Though his medical treatment continues, the most important part of his journey is complete, he will never be alone again.
His story is a powerful testament to resilience, compassion, and the healing power of love.
