A dog that was left tied to a tree by the family he adored has broken hearts online.
In a viral video, 7-year-old Bruce, an American bulldog mix, sat inside a kennel at the Humane Society of Broward County, Florida, looking despondent. His sad expression was accompanied by a note on the door that read: “My heart is broken. My family abandoned me. I loved them so much.
“Since I’ve been here, I’ve been down in the dumps. I am a very affectionate dog who just wants to be loved. I won’t leave your side. I know there are many younger and cuter dogs, but I promise you will not find a more devoted, loyal friend than me.”
Susan Leonti, a representative for the Humane Society, told Newsweek: “Sadly, Bruce was tied to a tree on our shelter’s property in the middle of the night. We don’t know who left him there, but we know he’s been here about a month, and no one has come looking for him.”
From left: the sign on Bruce’s kennel; and the dog looks downhearted at the shelter. His story has broken hearts online.
@humanebroward/TikTok
Bruce’s adjustment to shelter life has been tough. “The environment is very hard on him,” Leonti said. “He spends most of his time laying in his bed with his head down. But, despite it all, he’s very sweet with everyone he meets. He always wags his tail when we come to see him.”
In 2023, 6.5 million animals entered U.S. shelters, according to Shelter Animals Count, up 4 percent when compared to 2022 intakes. At the end of 2023, 117,000 additional dogs and cats were in the animal sheltering system compared to the same time the year before.
Around 850,000 animals were euthanized in shelters in 2023, a rise of 15 percent when compared to 2022. Shelters are striving to minimize euthanasia rates by promoting adoption campaigns, spaying and neutering programs, and behavior rehabilitation.
As the video of Bruce gained more attention online, many animal lovers shared their reactions in the comments.
“I watched this video 100x and can’t stop crying … poor baby,” wrote one commenter, while another added: “What a lovely dog—how could anyone do this to him?”
“Oh sweet Bruce, my heart breaks for this precious angel,” posted a third.
While the video of the despondent Bruce is difficult to watch, it has prompted lots of attention from potential adopters. “There has been a lot of interest in Bruce since the post,” said Leonti. “We’re hopeful he’ll be adopted soon.”
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our “Pet of the Week” lineup.
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