Pint-sized pooch gets round-theclock care

A pint-sized pooch with two dislocated legs, joint issues and tumours in his eyes had his life saved at the 11th hour after a family adopted him.

Vets had said that little Bruce, a 10-week-old chihuahua, would need to be put to sleep because he required 24-hour care.

But Bruce was handed a “miracle” lifeline when Robyn Boyd, from Lochee in Dundee, met him.

The 28-year-old barmaid said she was immediately smitten by the pup – as were her aunt Jayne Kelly and Jayne’s daughter, Eryn.

Robyn said: “We told the vet that we were happy to take him in and see what we could do to help him – just to give him a chance.

“Thankfully the vet agreed. From the minute I saw Bruce I thought, ‘he is coming home with us’.

“He is so wee, he fits in the palm of my hand.

“He is the size of a mouse, you would never think he was 10 weeks old. You would think he had just been born.”

Although both of Bruce’s front legs are dislocated and he has underdeveloped joints and non-cancerous tumours in his eyes, as well as having stunted growth, Robyn said he was responding well to their care.

Eryn moved into Jayne’s house and stayed up all night massaging his joints.

The family also posted a video of Bruce receiving hydrotherapy in a bathroom sink.

Robyn said: “His legs don’t work. His two front legs are really bad and the joints in his shoulders are completely gone.

“He isn’t blind but he looks like he is – we are giving him eye drops from the vet.

“We are having to massage him constantly and we are putting him in water for hydrotherapy three times a day.

“We are just doing everything we can to help his wee legs.

“We found out that he loves cheese – he has been scoffing Dairylea Triangles.”

Picture: Alan Richardson. Robyn Boyd with Bruce.