This story reads from bottom up. When you read this tale please think not only of Bruno but other dogs who have been victims of similar histories. Help bull breeds by giving a loving and forever home to a staffie or bully.  Each dog homed to a good home is one less vulnerable to falling into the hands of evil. 

                                   CLOSE MORTAL EYES, OPEN, MY EYES IN HEAVEN

         Ruth Pitter

THIS PAGE IS TO REMEMBER BRUNO, A REMARKABLE DOG, VICTIM OF CRUELTY AND NEGLECT AS A PUP AND UNFORTUNATE ENOUGH TO LIVE FOR OVER TWO  YEARS WITH AN UNDIAGNOSED BREAKAGE IN HIS ONE REMAINING FRONT LEG.  SINCE COMING TO BULLY BEFRIENDERS AND RECEIVING AN ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS OF HIS PROBLEMS, DESPITE STATE OF THE ART AND PIONEERING TREATMENT OVER MONTHS ,THIS WONDERFUL SOUL COULD NOT REGAIN THE MOBILITY THAT HE SO DESPERATELY REQUIRED FOR SURVIVAL AND BRUNO WAS PUT TO SLEEP WITH DIGNITY IN DECEMBER 2009.

I WOULD LIKE TO OFFER THANKS TO ALL OF THOSE KIND PEOPLE WHO SUPPORTED ME IN TRYING TO PUT TO RIGHT THE EVILS THAT WERE DONE TO THIS INNOCENT ANIMAL. THAT WE HAVE LOST THE BATTLE DOES NOT MEAN THAT IT WAS WRONG TO TRY.

BRUNO WILL CONTINUE AS THE MASCOT DOG FOR BULLY BEFRIENDERS TO ILLUSTRATE THE VULNERABILITY OF A BREED WHICH SUFFERS MUCH PREJUDICE AND MISUNDERSTANDING.

I AM SURE HE WILL ALWAYS LIVE ON IN THE HEARTS OF THOSE WHO HAVE TRIED TO HELP HIM AS HE WIL ALWAYS REMAIN AS A SPECIAL SPIRIT IN MY HEART. IT WAS A PRIVILEGE TO HAVE KNOWN THIS VERY SPECIAL ANIMAL.

A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO ALL THOSE AT FITZPATRICK REFERALLS WHO TRIED SO ENDURINGLY HARD TO HELP

BRUNO AND WHO ALSO COULD NOT HELP BUT LOVE HIM.

Bruno's body has been laid to rest in the woodland where he happily played.

This is the way I like to remember this very special soul.

Run free Bruno, wherever you are in spirit.

and so prior to Christmas 2009 the vets and myself thought the most ethical thing

to do was to have Bruno put to sleep with dignity.  To put out this light was one of the

hardest things I have ever had to do and I know that the vet and his team had come

to love Bruno after months in their care and we all felt the same.

but sadly this was not to be.  Even with the best vet and veterinary care available and

all the good wishes and support for Bruno, Bruno's leg never gained mobility as the nerves

and muscles had just deteriorated so much that they could not support the leg with the

elbow fusion. Bruno had had four attempts also at making a peg leg on the amputated side

to help him but there was way too much damage in what was left of that side and the

operations were not successful despite the massive dedication of the team involved.

It looked as if the future would be bright for Bruno and the wrongs that had

     been done to him could have been put right.

Bruno was fortunate to receive the best treatment from the most dedicated and supportive

vet. His initial elbow fusion operation took seven hours to perform. Bruno spent some monthhaving daily physio,  further operations and custom made supports to help him.

Bruno's handsome and now happy face got newspaper coverage and radio broadcast. He was also filmed.

                                                                   Meanwhile Bruno became the mascot dog for Bully Befrienders with the intention

                                                                  to raise awareness of the cruelty that bull breeds face in the baiting/fighting arena.

Bruno so deserved the chance to live .

The appeal to help received good national and international response.

                                                             A campaign was started to raise money for Bruno to have treatment at a veterinary centre

                                                             of excellence where he could have pioneering treatment to save his mobility and thus his life.

                                                    When Bruno was taken for his leg x ray the prognosis was extremely grim. The damage to his one

                                                    remaining front leg had been undetected apparently at the time of the amputation on the other. Now

                                                    Bruno had so much deterioration there was nothing they could offer. It would only be a matter of

                                                    time.  Although I am used to animals undergoing euthenasia in their own interests this seemed so

                                                    totally wrong for Bruno. I came out shaking and decided I must put up a fight on his behalf.

                                                                                       This photo captures well that very special Bruno spirit.

                                                                Bruno has daily woodland `walks` with his new pals and loves every minute of it even

                                                                though he cannot exercise in quite the normal way. Such a brilliant spirit and never a

                                                                martyr, Bruno took pleasure in watching his companions run and play.

                                                         Finally we see that winning  staffy smile coming out as Bruno becomes much more relaxed

                                                                                   Dear little Cookie Monster always made new recruits feel at ease so             

                                                                                   was part of Bruno's welcoming committee

                                                                                                       Bruno meeting some of his new pals.

                                                      Bruno had been found with one of his front legs torn out of the socket as a pup.

                                                      Although this leg was amputated, the remaining front leg appears not to have been

                                                     diagnosed as problematic and was not dealt with.

                                                                                            Bruno on arrival. We were shocked at his problems thinking

                                                                                            he would be just like any other tripod dog. It was clear

                                                                                            Bruno needed help.  First, though, to reassure and settle him.