My name is Bruno!

Bruno seems to have been dumped by his owner in a rural area near the home base of Bluebonnet Animal Rescue. He was posted and shared on social media by various local folks, but no one claimed him. He was scanned for a microchip but didn't have one. A kind family was feeding him, but he continued to roam the area, until he turned up one day with terrible injuries. The family contacted us, and we sent them to the closest veterinarian.

Bruno needed two surgeries to repair his wounds, which the vet thinks were likely the result of an encounter with a feral hog. We didn't have space to bring Bruno to Windsong Ranch, so he was boarded at the vet clinic while he recovered from his injuries. He was also neutered and vaccinated while there, and heartworm tested -- negative, thank goodness!

We partnered with a rescue in the upper Midwest and they found an adopter for Bruno. Sadly, though the adopter's boyfriend didn't like Bruno, and the adopter chose the boyfriend over the dog. (Some of us would have chosen differently!) Bruno was sent back to Texas and has been at Windsong Ranch since late December.

Bruno is a BIG boy, and can get very excited if you let him run in a big yard off-leash. When he's on a leash, he has VERY good manners. He also has good manners in the house. He was in a foster home briefly with dogs of all sizes plus a cat, and he did well with everyone. Here at Windsong Ranch, he has gotten along well with all the dogs we have introduced to him.

Due to his large size and his exuberance, we think Bruno will do best in a home with adults only, or with sturdy kids, preferably teens or older. Bruno is really just a giant puppy who hasn't fully learned that his size and speed combined make him a real force to be reckoned with! Please note the photos though -- You can see that even with just a light slip-lead on, the handler has a very light/loose hold on the leash, and Bruno is not pulling on the leash. And he's a LOVE leaner, just leaning into his handler because he's such a lovebug.

We're making our best guess about Bruno's breed. Normally, we don't suggest that a dog is a breed that isn't very common, and Boerboels are NOT very common in Texas. BUT, there's a Boerboel breeder in North Texas, less than an hour's drive from where Bruno turned up, so it's definitely possible that he's the offspring of a dog who came from that breeder.  It's important to note that surgeries to repair his injuries changed the look of Bruno's face/muzzle somewhat. Before his encounter with a feral hog, Bruno looked a LOT like a Boerboel. After his surgeries, his face looks a bit like a Boerboel, and a bit like an Anatolian Shepherd. But his build and his tail look more Boerboel to us. Still, several folks who have seen his photos would just swear he looks like an Anatolian. People who MEET Bruno, usually think Boerboel or Boerboel mix is more likely. We can't say for sure, but if you would like to donate a DNA test, we would be glad to find out!

If Bruno sounds like the perfect addition to your family, please complete the application on our website.