07/27/2026
Some of you may have noticed that things have felt a little different around Del Mar Veterinary Hospital lately.
Two weeks ago, we said goodbye to our beloved Bruno.🐾🌈
Bruno wasn’t “just a dog.” He was our family. We rescued him from Nassau Humane Society when he was just five months old long before Del Mar Veterinary Hospital even existed. He grew up alongside us, witnessed the dream of this hospital become a reality, and was, in every sense, our second child.
Bruno had the gentlest soul. He was incredibly easy-going and had a quiet way of making everyone feel at ease. It didn’t matter if it was another dog, a cat, or any other animal, he was loved by them all. It was almost as if they instinctively knew he would never pose a threat. His calm, kind nature made him a friend to every animal he met and a comfort to every person who had the privilege of knowing him.
He was there as our family grew. Bruno had been by our oldest son Adrian’s side since Adrian was just two years old and was a constant companion throughout the entire life of our youngest son, Marcos, who is now 13. To our boys, there has never been a life without Bruno. He wasn’t simply the family dog, he was their protector, their playmate, and one of their very best friends.
Bruno was 15 years old, and three years ago he was diagnosed with cancer. Because of his age and where the tumor was located, surgery was simply too risky. Thankfully, we caught it early, and with careful medical management, we were blessed with three more incredible years that we never took for granted.
True to who he was, Bruno never let his diagnosis define him. Just days before he passed, he was still hopping around, playing, wagging his tail, and enjoying the people he loved. He reminded us every day to cherish the little moments and to find joy despite life’s challenges.
Losing him has been one of the hardest things our family has ever experienced.
As veterinary professionals, we help families through these heartbreaking moments every single day. We guide others through their grief, but when it’s your own best friend, the pain is just as profound. No amount of medical knowledge or experience makes saying goodbye any easier.
Dr. Nieves has continued showing up every day to care for your beloved pets while quietly carrying the weight of this loss. Like many small businesses, we are also currently short-staffed, and some days have simply been harder than others.
We wanted to share this with our Del Mar family because we know many of you have experienced this same heartbreak. If you’ve noticed that Dr. Nieves seems quieter than usual, please know we’re doing our very best while navigating the loss of someone who meant the world to us.
We kindly ask for a little extra patience, understanding, and grace during this time. Your compassion means more than you know, and it reminds us why we are so grateful to be part of this incredible community.
Thank you for trusting us with your pets, for allowing us to love them as our own, and for reminding us every day why this profession is such a privilege, even when it comes with heartbreak.
Sweet Bruno, thank you for 15 unforgettable years, for teaching us unconditional love, kindness, resilience, and joy. You will forever be the heart behind our family, and your paw prints will remain on our hearts forever. ❤️🐾 ~ Melissa
