Bruno: The Linebacker of Pekes

29/08/2024

May you have all the ice-cream you want.

Or not.

Whatever makes you happy. 🐾🐾

29/08/2024

On the second day of school, meeting remarkable leaders, teachers, and staff, teaching remarkable students.

And while Bruno is no longer with us in physical form, he lives forever in our hearts.

To quote a good friend, "Part of Bruno's legacy is ensuring another pup receives lots of love in his honor," - this pup too had a huge loss: his owner, and his two siblings both who fortunately went to great homes.

“We all miss Bruno, but his legacy continues. Marshall is a fantastic dog and we are happy he is here with us." David Brelsford, Robotics/ Engineering teacher.

22/08/2024

With Bruno's blessing, meet Marshall, AKA Lil Man.

Marshall, for Raymond Marshall, MERVO's Community School Coordinator, who welcomed us with a huge open heart on September 26, 2022 to share TLC with the wonderful MERVO community.

As with Bruno, Marshall's owner died recently and he and his siblings found themselves in need of a home. I saw his adoption post a few days after Bruno died - he does not replace my love bug, but he bears a striking resemblance both, physically and in personality.

Grief needs a place to land.

I honor Bruno and the love and light he brought into the world by opening my aching heart to another little being who is also healing from loss. We will heal together, in memory of our beloved.

21/08/2024

, 2012-2024; Ninotchka, 2011-2023; Yoshi, 2009-2020.

16/08/2024

Don’t forget to give yourself grace when you feel overwhelmed, and to turn to light in moments of doubt and darkness. And always remember that love never dies.Bruno at MERVO, in Dr. Teeple’s nursing class, doing serious work.He loved the belly rubs, and he loved the kids.

09/08/2024

Shenanigans

08/08/2024

On International Cat Day, Bruno’s shenanigans with his cat siblings. Part II. With Patches (still with us)

08/08/2024

06/08/2024

They miss him too

30/07/2024

Remembering Bruno, on WMAR 2 News tonight:

A fluffy Pekingese dog who worked his way into the hearts of many people in Baltimore died last week. Now, he is being remembered for all the good he did in...

25/07/2024

I am shattered to share that Bruno - my love bug, the king of belly rubs, the wonder dog, the linebacker of Pekes, the Odette Ramos’ campaign mascot, and beloved MERVO’s Watchdog for Love — and comfort dog in a time of much needed TLC - has left us.

He died in my older brother’s arms at around 4 a.m. today, as I drove to the ER in Pikesville.

On Tuesday he saw the vet, who said he had an infection, and gave him antibiotics. The vet said that if he wasn’t better by Monday, he would do chest x-rays.

On Wednesday, I noticed that he seemed a bit off, and called the vet again, and asked him to do x-rays. I left him at the vet’s from about 12:30 to 6.

When I picked him up, he seemed OK, but collapsed on the way out.

The tech took him back again - the vet came out to say he was standing OK when he saw him the second time.

I carried him home, and he seemed OK. He ate heartily, but lost his balance again.

I picked him up and held him close, for a while. He rested on my chest, and slowly seemed to recover his energy.

He slept for a bit, and woke up at midnight to drink water. He stumbled a bit, so I held him again. By then I had given him antibiotics for a day and a half - three doses. I thought they would work their way through his system, in due time.

He fell asleep, as did I. At around 3:30 a.m., I heard him trying to move - he looked at me, as he p*ed on himself. I picked him up, and felt him p*e on me.

I held him close - I felt him slipping, and started to implore him to hang in there. I kissed his face, as I begged the heavens above not to take him, to let him stay just a little longer.

My pleas fell on deaf ears, but awakened my brother.

My brother held him as I drove to the ER, and as I massaged his heart with my free hand, telling him to hang in there.

He was gone by the time we arrived at the ER.

I begged him to wake up, but he wouldn’t.

I went to MERVO early this afternoon - I did not want to share the sad news via a text with Mr. Marshall, and the staff and teachers who showed him so much love.

Thank you everyone who loved him - who held him, and who became a part of our lives through his amazing capacity to accept, and to love, unconditionally.

Thank you, George Faber, for the beautiful prayer as we laid him to rest.

The thought that he has been reunited with Larry Fenaroli, the man who bought him in 2012 from a drug addict who threatened to throw him in the harbor, is of some comfort.

As is the thought that he is also in the loving embrace of my Grandmother, who adored him, and my Mom, who adored him just as much.

And Noshka, and Sydney, and all the pets we have lost over the years and, more recently, Sofia and Sasha.

There were so many plans - my director, aware of the therapeutic power of dogs, wanted him to do outreach for our center.

And MERVO had plans for upcoming events.

Bruno, the comfort dog, has died.

22/07/2024

“Gimme treats…now!”

No patience 😏

07/07/2024

Chloe, like Ninotchka (2011-2023), will eat blueberries and watermelon.

The boys? They spit the blueberries out.

I guess they don’t care about antioxidants in their diet. 😉

Stay hydrated my friends.

06/07/2024

When it’s 93 degrees out 😉

03/07/2024

Synchronized sleeping

30/06/2024

Ricky Gervais on dogs -

If you haven’t seen his After Life (Netflix), do. It’s funny, irreverent, and beautiful.

Happy Sunday.

Here are some dogs for you - past and present.

21/06/2024

No fighting, please

16/06/2024

Chloe Samantha received a few beautiful dresses yesterday from a sweet lady, Meghan, and Reed’s Rescue, the rescue providing second chances to adorable senior dogs.
THANK YOU! ❤️❤️ 🐾🐾
Reed's Rescue

10/06/2024

Happy Monday!

08/06/2024

Bruno’s brother was up to no good this morning - and not a happy camper… 😏😉 🐦 🐈

04/06/2024

International Corgi Day – June 4, 2024

“We celebrate International Corgi Day on June 4 every year. The corgi is a dog breed with short legs, a long body, and a huge heart. These dogs' roots can be traced to Wales where they were bred to herd larger animals.”

My cicada eating beauty, 2011-2023

02/06/2024

02/06/2024

Haha

30/05/2024

Benji turns 18 today, 5.30.24.

Adopted three years ago, in memory of my Mom, he was looking for a “soft place to land.”

Deaf, and blind in one eye, that hasn’t stopped him from enjoying life to the fullest.

Please join me in wishing this sweet boy a Happy 18th Birthday! ❤️🎂🎉🎊🐾🐾❤️

26/05/2024

Today we celebrate Chloe Samantha’s birthday, and her one year adoption anniversary!

Happiest of birthdays, sweet girl. 🎂🎊🎉🐾

Debbie L Hess