Social media users have been left in tears after an owner revealed the heartbreaking reason she slept downstairs with her rescue dog for over two months.
After spending the first nine years of his life in a small backyard shed, Bruce the golden retriever had never known the comfort of a loving home before. Thankfully, his life turned around in October 2024, when he was fostered by Aubrey Turner, before being officially adopted by her in November.
Bruce had been used as a breeding dog his whole life, with Turner, 25, telling Newsweek that his old shed had no bed, toys, straw, or even hay inside. “He had nothing to keep him warm and comfortable for 9 long years,” Turner, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, said.
When Bruce was brought into their home, Turner and her wife helped him feel comfortable and learn to trust. She started documenting this new chapter of Bruce’s life on social media (@seniorboybruce on TikTok).
There was one obstacle she hadn’t expected however, and that was Bruce’s fear of going up or down stairs. Having only ever lived outside, he never learned how to tackle steps of any kind, and was utterly petrified of them.
“We have three steps to climb up to get into the house, and then a main staircase in the house to get upstairs,” Turner said. “When we first brought him home, he refused to walk up the three stairs and his tail was tucked between his legs. He was very clearly nervous.”
For the first two months, Bruce was too scared to attempt any of the stairs in his forever home. Instead, he slept on the couch downstairs—and his doting owners slept by his side the entire time.
Turner explained that they have a large L-shaped sectional sofa, so it wasn’t too uncomfortable to sleep on. There were some nights when she missed the comfort of her bed, but keeping Bruce company was her priority.
She continued: “Thankfully our couch is quite large, so we were able to sleep right next to him. One of us would sleep on each side of the couch, with our heads facing each other, and Bruce was usually in the middle of us on our legs.
“Though we did miss the bed some nights, my wife and I felt such a deep need to be right by his side as much as possible, and that greatly overpowered any longing for our bed. Bruce is also an expert at cuddling, so that certainly made it easier,” Turner said.
The golden retriever spent two months observing his owners as they tackled the staircase, and as his confidence grew, he showed that he desperately wanted to overcome his fear. Turner started calling his name from the stairs, keeping her voice “inviting and encouraging” to ease any fears he had.
By mid-December, Bruce was finally ready to brave the stairs. It took lots of treats and encouragement, but Turner said he’s been a “pro” ever since.
Now that he’s able to explore upstairs, there’s only one place he chooses to sleep at night—and it’s certainly not the couch.
“Bruce sleeps happily in our king-size bed, and his favorite spot is between my wife and I,” Turner told Newsweek. “We have been sleeping so much better since being in a real bed. Bruce used to get up frequently throughout the night, switching positions on the couch and finding the best place to lie. It was certainly crowded on the couch with three of us sprawled out, so the bed is a welcomed upgrade.”
Indeed, Bruce has been making the most of the extra comfort by sleeping late most mornings. Turner joked that he’s “almost always the last one out of bed”—and who could blame him?
The Social Media Reaction
On December 27, Turner posted a video on TikTok that documented Bruce’s journey from “sleeping in a dirty shed” to enjoying the luxury of a large bed. The video has delighted internet users since it was shared, generating more than 328,300 views and 38,000 likes at the time of writing.
Turner has been amazed by the overwhelming support she’s received since posting the clip online.
“I am so grateful for everybody who left kind comments, supportive words, and for all the love we have received,” Turner said. “My wife and I want to share the importance of adoption, especially with senior dogs, and we couldn’t do that without all the support. Take a chance on a senior dog, you might just find your new best friend.”
Many people praised Turner for caring so deeply about Bruce, leading to over 600 comments on the viral TikTok video. She was even inundated with helpful tips from others who went through similar experiences.
One comment reads: “Bruce I hope your bed is always warm and cozy!”
Another TikTok user wrote: “This makes my heart happy.”
While another person added: “My heart is bursting with love for Bruce! Thank you for giving him his best years!”
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to [email protected] with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
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