At 13 years old, Bruiser has lived a long, loving life—a loyal senior dog with a gentle heart and a personality as strong as ever. He knows what he likes, he knows how things should be, and as his owner, Nicole Michell, often says with affection, “Bruiser is stubborn and doesn’t like change.” No one realized just how true that was until the day his routine was shaken, leading to an accident no one saw coming.
Nicole and her boyfriend had taken a short trip out of town, leaving Bruiser in the care of a trusted friend. As new dog parents, they wanted to ensure he felt safe while they were gone. But life at home was already a little unsettled—construction crews were in the middle of building a new deck in the backyard, digging deep holes where the foundation would go. Normally, the yard was Bruiser’s familiar place. But now, it was filled with changes he didn’t understand.
To avoid the construction area, Nicole suggested the pet sitter take Bruiser out the front door instead. But Bruiser, set in his ways, planted himself firmly in place. He wasn’t going anywhere unfamiliar. “He wouldn’t go out the front door,” Nicole explained, knowing all too well how determined her dog could be.
Hoping to keep things as normal as possible, the pet sitter gently guided him to the backyard instead. But the moment they stepped outside, everything felt different—the holes, the equipment, the unfamiliar space. The pet sitter tried to steer him away, but Bruiser, nearly 100 pounds and full of senior dog stubbornness, pulled against the lead. In one sudden misstep, his back foot slipped—and he dropped straight into one of the deep construction holes.
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The fall wedged his large body tightly, leaving him stuck and unable to climb out. The pet sitter tried desperately to free him, but Bruiser was too heavy and the hole too deep. Panic set in. She called for help immediately, knowing she couldn’t wait a second longer.
Emergency crews rushed to the scene. Animal control officers and volunteers from the Baldwin Fire Company arrived together, prepared to do whatever it took. Bruiser, despite being trapped, stayed amazingly calm—his steady nature helping everyone around him stay focused.
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But rescuing him was no easy task. The hole had to be widened just enough for the team to safely pull him out. Volunteers dug carefully, inch by inch, determined not to hurt him. After nearly an hour and a half of working together, they finally managed to lift Bruiser to safety.
He emerged covered in dirt, exhausted, and probably confused—but thankfully, unharmed.
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When Nicole and her boyfriend arrived home, they braced themselves for the worst. Instead, they found Bruiser acting as if nothing unusual had happened. “He was 100% fine, just dirty. Not a limp,” Nicole said with relief and disbelief. It was almost impossible to imagine that their senior boy had been stuck in a construction hole just hours earlier.
Bruiser didn’t seem fazed at all. His family, however, felt deeply grateful—for the quick-thinking sitter, the compassionate rescuers, and the strangers who worked tirelessly to save their dog. Some of the firefighters even checked in the next day, wanting to make sure Bruiser was doing well.
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What happened to Bruiser is more than a funny story about a stubborn dog. It’s a reminder of how deeply we love our pets—and how, when something goes wrong, people will come together without hesitation to help. Bruiser’s calm spirit, paired with the dedication of everyone involved, turned a frightening accident into a moment of community, compassion, and relief.
Today, Bruiser is back to his routine—steady, stubborn, and full of heart. And his family holds him a little closer, grateful for every day they get to share with him.
Bruiser’s adventure showed that even in scary moments, love, resilience, and kindness can turn everything around. And sometimes, even the most stubborn hearts remind us how strong—and how precious—they truly are.