Burned, Beaten, Left for Dead – Bruce the Bull Lurcher’s Miraculous Second Chance
Two years ago, Bruce the bull lurcher was discovered wandering near Carlisle in a state so shocking that rescuers feared he would not survive. He had been beaten with such force that his skull was fractured, set on fire, and left emaciated to the point his ribs were visible.
Photographs from the time showed a cowering dog, his face swollen from the brutal attack and his body covered in burns.
Rushed into emergency surgery, vets found a deep hole in the top of his skull, puncture wounds on his face, and burns across his tail and hind legs. An MRI scan revealed splintered fragments lodged in his head, leaving his jaw locked shut.
RSPCA inspector Sam Morris recalled being “absolutely gobsmacked” at Bruce’s condition.
“I’ve worked for the RSPCA for 10 years and I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything that awful,” she said. “The pain he must have been in is unimaginable. He was losing the will to carry on.”
Despite the odds, Bruce survived a marathon operation in 2018. Against all expectations, the moment he woke up, his tail began to wag.
That fighting spirit carried him through a long recovery. One of the vets who treated him, Marie Coleman, felt an instant bond.
“It was love at first sight,” she said. Initially fostering Bruce during his rehabilitation, she later adopted him permanently.
Today, Bruce is almost unrecognizable. His scars have healed, the burns have grown over with healthy fur, and the dog once left for dead now thrives in a loving home.
“He loves home life,” said Coleman. “His wounds have healed beautifully. He is 100 percent happy in life — and he’s made our lives 100 percent better.”
Bruce’s miraculous story of survival will feature in the new season of The Dog Rescuers on Channel 5, where presenter Alan Davies calls him nothing short of a miracle.
From tragedy to triumph, Bruce is proof that even the most broken souls can find healing — and love.