‘Old dog’ was alone in Florida shelter after owner’s death. Facebook post changed that
A Florida animal shelter received a call in late August with “gut-wrenching” but all too common news, the shelter’s director said.
A previously adopted dog named Bruno had to be returned to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals of Brevard — located in Titusville — after his owner died of an illness. Despite Bruno being adored by the staff, executive director Susan Naylor told McClatchy News she knew she needed to try and find the 9-year-old dog a home quick.
“He gets depressed being in kennels, it’s hard.” Naylor said. “We have a very nice facility, but it’s still a kennel situation. It’s still not being in somebody’s bed with them.”
So Naylor, after taking Bruno home with her for a few days, took to Facebook on Sept. 11 to spread the word about his situation. She said she wanted people to know “how awesome of a dog he was.”
“He kind of reminds me of Eeyore but in a good way,” Naylor said.
The post got hundreds of likes, shares and comments on Facebook as people all showed their love for the “gentle giant.” Naylor knew it would get attention, she said, but she didn’t anticipate so much support.
“It’s been huge,” she said. “That really made me super happy to know that many people will care about an old dog sitting in a shelter.”
Bruno and his brother first came to the SPCA of Brevard about a year and a half ago, Naylor said. Then, at the start of the year, Bruno found a home with a man who “absolutely loved him,” she said.
“He went everywhere with Bruno, or Bruno went everywhere with him,” Naylor said.
Bruno’s owner had an illness throughout the time he had Bruno, Naylor said. At the end of August, Bruno’s owner went to a hospital, and his family called to tell the SPCA that he wouldn’t survive.
After being surrendered back to the shelter, SPCA staff brought Bruno to an Orlando multi-day event where he met hundreds of people. They brought him to every day of the event because the staff knew how stressed being in a kennel made him, Naylor said.
“He was a perfect gentleman to the hundreds of people who visited him those three days, as well as to the other dogs who came along,” Naylor said in the Facebook post.
Naylor made the decision to bring Bruno home with her for the weekend to stall the inevitable return to the shelter. Naylor has three dogs of her own, including a playful puppy named Winston, which Bruno got along great with.
But after the weekend ended, it “killed” Naylor to return Bruno to his kennel, she said in the Facebook post.
She typically brings dogs to stay in her office on the second floor when she works, she said, but Bruno’s hip problems wouldn’t allow him to do that. So instead, Bruno would hang out at the front desk with other staff, Naylor said.
In the aftermath of her Facebook post, Naylor said the animal shelter received “several phone calls” of people inquiring about Bruno.
“At one point, our front desk staff messaged me and said there’s four people in the lobby right now that want to adopt Bruno,” Naylor said.
The SPCA’s adoption policy is open, Naylor said, which means the shelter looks for reasons to approve people rather than deny them. They also choose future owners on a first-come, first-served basis, given that the shelter deems them qualified.
Bruno’s big day came Tuesday, Sept. 12, when a family adopted him into their home. He even got a new sister named Peaches in the process, who he met before he was officially adopted.
“He just wants to coexist,” Naylor said. “And that’s exactly what they were able to do.”
Bruno’s situation isn’t unique, Naylor said, as the shelter works with “dozens and dozens of people a week” looking to give away their dogs.
From what she’s seen, housing issues have become increasing contributors to people surrendering their dogs to the shelter.
Naylor said she hopes Bruno’s story inspires other people to adopt from their local shelter.
“There’s hundreds of other Brunos at shelters who need a home,” Naylor said.
Titusville is located around 40 miles east of Orlando.
This story was originally published September 14, 2023 at 10:40 AM with the headline "‘Old dog’ was alone in Florida shelter after owner’s death. Facebook post changed that."
