It’s not easy to take a dog that has no nose, tail, or one leg to public places. Sadly, people tend to gawk, but this sweet pup has a name, Bonnie the Brave, and she is much more than her appearance.
Some people even say rude things to Bonnie's adoptive mom, Kate, when they see them outside, such as "keep that thing away from me". Some people go beyond being mean and try to hurt Bonnie physically by kicking or harming her in some way.
However, Kate views every outing with her pup as a chance to teach others and try to reduce the prejudice against animals that look different from what people expect. Like humans, animals differ in shape, size and experience, some negative. They sometimes face trauma and they bear their wounds and injuries for the rest of their lives.
The Story of Bonnie the Brave
Bonnie's past is very painful, but she has found healing. Today, she is a spoiled pup in Canterbury, England, and she gets love every moment of every day. Bonnie has made a lot of progress from the Romanian factory where she was discovered when she was only a few weeks old.
A factory worker had seen a mother dog and her puppies. He posted a picture online hoping to get these animals a caring home. However, sometime later, Bonnie was struck by a coal train and she sustained severe injuries in the accident. She wouldn't be found and taken to the vet until after a few days when the same worker and his daughter went to check on the pups.
Bonnie's condition was very critical and the vets doubted she would survive. The coal train had severely injured the pup; she had lost most of her snout, her tail, and half of her leg. She had also suffered abuse from other dogs who took advantage of her weakness. As we all understand, life is not always kind.
The vets suggested putting Bonnie to sleep, but her rescuers did not give up on her. They believed someone would love her, even if she was "damaged". They could not keep the pup themselves, but they took her to Beacon Animal Rescue, where Rebecca cared for her and tried to find a kind and secure permanent home for Bonnie in the UK.
An Instant Connection
Kate recalls the moment she saw Bonnie's photo on the Beacon Animal Rescue website as if it was yesterday. It was Rebecca who showed her the photo and Kate felt an immediate bond.
She realized that Bonnie would be rejected by most people because of her appearance and that they would also consider her a big burden because she would require special care and regular medical attention.
So, she decided to adopt Bonnie on the spot. They attempted to give the pup a prosthesis for the missing part of her leg, but it never worked well and it caused Bonnie a lot of pain. The best option was to remove the rest of her leg and, since then, Bonnie has been able to move and live like any other dog.
The only real difference between Bonnie and other dogs is that she looks different. Her appearance makes her unique and Kate hopes that it can teach people and encourage unconditional acceptance.
Bonnie's Nose and Kate's Choice
Bonnie is a pup who has no nose due to an accident. Kate, her owner, could have opted for a surgery to fix her nose, but she thought that Bonnie had suffered enough. She did not want to subject Bonnie to an unnecessary procedure, so she accepted her as she is. However, not everyone is as kind and compassionate as Kate and her family.
How People Treat Bonnie
When Bonnie goes out with Kate, she attracts a lot of attention. Some people stare at her, while others make rude remarks. Kate has heard things like: "That's a hideous dog" or "Keep it away from me." Some people even try to hurt Bonnie by kicking her.
When Kate tells people that her pup has no nose, they often ask: "How does she smell? That's terrible." But not all reactions are negative.
People from different countries and backgrounds are drawn to Bonnie’s online presence. They send her positive feedback and express their interest in her journey. Bonnie feels loved and admired by her global audience. Sometimes, people recognize Bonnie and ask to take pictures with her to share them online. She gets overwhelmed by the amount of love she gets online and sometimes she even gets gifts!
The Lesson from Bonnie
Bonnie is a special dog who teaches us what true love should be like, especially in a world where appearance seems to matter so much. But love should not depend on how someone looks and that's an important lesson to remember.
Bonnie’s happy life is an example of how adopting dogs of any kind can benefit both them and their owners. All they need is a secure and loving home to flourish and reward you with their loyalty and affection.
Dogs that have suffered from abuse or trauma should not be judged by their appearance. They are not broken, they are just unique, and that’s perfectly fine.
We hope you will share Bonnie’s story with others to raise awareness and motivate them to adopt when they want to add a new pup to their family. That can make a huge difference!