If you're a dog owner, then you know how important toys can be for  your pet’s sense of well-being. It is just as important for pups that have been brought to the shelter. That was the case for Bruno, a 1-year-old with a missing ear who was rescued from an abusive home.

“Bruno used to live chained up outside,” his rescuers from the SPCA of Wake County, North Carolina, wrote. “And his ear was torn off when another dog attacked him and he couldn’t run away.” Despite this trauma, Bruno made a full recovery and quickly grew close to the shelter staff with his sweet and friendly personality.

Since it was unclear how long Bruno would remain in their care, the caretakers gave him a plush dog toy to give him some comfort. It didn't take long for Bruno to make a much-needed alteration to his new doll. One day, one of the staff members went to check on him and couldn’t believe what he saw. “Bruno tore one of the ears off his favorite stuffed toy—the same ear he’s missing himself,” the shelter said. “Bruno knows there’s nothing wrong with him, and now he has a best friend just like him to prove it.”

While the plush toy surely gave him some solace during his stay at the shelter, the best news came when Bruno was adopted by a loving pet parent. He made sure to take his look-alike toy with him when he moved to his forever home.

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