At 13 years old, Bruiser is a lovable senior dog who enjoys his daily routines — especially his bathroom breaks. But when a home renovation threw a wrench into his normal schedule, it led to an unexpected predicament that brought his entire community together in a heartwarming rescue mission.
A Bathroom Break Gone Wrong
Bruiser’s owners, Nicole and her boyfriend, were out of town when the mishap occurred. They had asked a friend to pet-sit, and with their backyard deck under construction, Nicole suggested that the sitter take Bruiser out the front door for his bathroom break. However, Bruiser, who weighs almost 100 pounds, wasn’t having it. He refused to go out the front door and insisted on sticking to his usual route through the backyard.
The pet-sitter, trying to accommodate Bruiser, took him out back — but the yard was full of deep holes due to the ongoing deck construction. When Bruiser pulled on his lead, his back foot slipped and he found himself wedged into one of the holes, unable to move.
Nicole recalls the moment: “He pulled the opposite way, and his back foot slipped. And in the hole he went.”
Bruiser’s large body got stuck tightly in the hole, effectively blocking it like a cork. The sitter struggled to free him and quickly called Nicole for help.
The Rescue Operation
Nicole didn’t waste any time. She reached out to neighbors for assistance and soon enough, Elmira Animal Control and volunteers from the Baldwin Volunteer Fire Company arrived on the scene to help rescue the stubborn pup.
“He was wedged in pretty good,” Nicole said.
After about 90 minutes of careful work, rescuers widened the hole enough to safely lift Bruiser out. The 13-year-old dog was understandably shaken, dirty, and a bit embarrassed, but fortunately, he wasn’t harmed in any way.
Back to Normal
Nicole and her boyfriend cut their trip short and rushed back home to check on their beloved dog. Bruiser acted like nothing had happened and went back to his usual, happy self.
“He was 100% fine, just dirty,” Nicole said with a smile. “We got home about two hours later, and he acted like nothing even happened.”
Since then, Nicole and her boyfriend made sure to cover the dangerous holes in their backyard, and Bruiser is back to enjoying his daily walks and bathroom breaks without any further mishaps.
Nicole added that she was deeply grateful for the firefighters and animal control officers who had helped rescue Bruiser. In fact, some of the volunteer firefighters even followed up the next day to check on Bruiser’s well-being.
A Senior Dog With a Lot of Love
Bruiser’s story serves as a reminder of how much extra care senior pets need, especially when they’re faced with the unexpected. His adventure, though unusual, was met with kindness and quick thinking from his rescuers and a devoted dog mom who was willing to do anything to make sure her best friend was safe.
It’s not every day that a community comes together to help a dog, but Bruiser’s story proves that kindness and love for our pets can make all the difference.
