Shortly after finding out she was pregnant with Finn, Paige Knudtson adopted a 2-year-old boxer named Brutus from a local rescue. Having grown up with boxers, Knudtson knew how gentle they could be. But she could never have anticipated what a big part of her baby’s life the dog would become.
“Brutus is just a big teddy bear,” Knudtson told The Dodo. “He loves attention and loves to snuggle with people.”
When Knudtson was 20 weeks pregnant with Finn, an anatomy scan revealed a serious heart defect. Finn underwent multiple procedures immediately after his birth until he could have open-heart surgery. “We were extremely lucky to have found this out prior to his birth, or he would not be here with us today,” Knudtson said.
After seven weeks, and a few complications, Finn was finally able to go home. And when Brutus met his baby brother, the connection was instantaneous. “Once we got home, it was as if Brutus just knew Finn needed some extra close monitoring, and he has been by his side ever since,” Knudtson said.
The two adore each other and spend every moment together — watching TV, playing outside, eating and napping.
“Brutus often curls up wherever Finn is sitting and follows him from room to room in our house,” Knudtson said. “If Finn is sick, Brutus knows it and just stays right by Finn’s side or lays his head on Finn’s chest.”
Brutus hates to be separated from Finn, even for a moment, and will scratch at the door to Finn’s room or pace outside it until he’s allowed in.
The brothers don’t even like to be alone at night.
When Finn was a baby, the protective dog slept on the rug in front of the crib, and now that Finn has moved to a toddler bed it’s much easier for the two to snuggle up.
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