Nearly a month after he was found in a well at the Billesberger farm near Hitchcock, Bruno the miracle dog is coming home.
When Bruno was found at the bottom of the abandoned well, John and Cindy Billesberger were astounded that the seven-year-old chocolate Labrador retriever was still alive.
After 27 days trapped in a cold and wet three-metre hole, Bruno was found on Oct. 14, but his recovery would take even longer.
On Oct. 19, Bruno was admitted to the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM)’s Veterinary Medical Centre (VMC) at the University of Saskatchewan. Now, after nearly 22 full days in the hospital, Bruno was ready to go home on Nov. 10.
“We’re so excited,” said Cindy Billesberger, who brought Bruno to Saskatoon.
The family’s local veterinary clinic, Prairie Animal Health Centre, treated Bruno for a few days, but then referred the dog to the specialized medical centre after bloodwork showed his phosphorous levels were dangerously low.
Billesberger said her family is grateful for the care provided by veterinarians in Estevan, Weyburn and Saskatoon.
“You’ve got such a feeling of helplessness when you pull an animal out like that, and they’re suffering and there’s nothing you can do. There was no way we could take care of him,” she said.
“Knowing there is somebody there that can take over … [who has] the knowledge and expertise and the strength. It’s the strength of character that it takes to see an animal in that kind of shape and put that aside and do what needs to be done. That’s huge.”
Bruno’s remarkable story made headlines across North America, but behind the scenes, a dedicated team of veterinary clinicians were working around the clock to make sure he pulled through.
“When he came in, he was barely walking. He was miserable. The only time he would look at us is when we had food,” said Dr. Alison Khoo, the small animal internal medicine resident who managed Bruno’s case.
“Now he’s like a different dog. He loves going outside. He’s still very food-motivated, but he’s got a lot of energy back and he’s starting to show more of his personality.”
Next week’s edition of the Mercury will have more on this story.
