Bruley, the Adorable Dog from ‘Queer Eye’ Has Died

It is with a heavy heart that we report that Bruley, the scene-stealing French bulldog from Queer Eye Season 3, has passed away. In an Instagram post from earlier today, Bruley’s owner and Queer Eye producer Michelle Silva, confirmed that her beloved pet had died of heart failure at the age of 10.

“Bru had been suffering from heart problems, and an instant heart attack was a possibility. He just had too much love and heart for his physical body. It all happened so fast, but I held him as he took his last breath, and I was able to tell him I loved him the very most,” Silva wrote.

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My whole heart. My love bug. My best friend. My constant. My soul mate. My everything. I brought him home when he was 9 weeks old on a rainy day in New York City. Ten years later on a rainy day in LA, he passed away in my arms on my bedroom floor. Bru had been suffering from heart problems, and an instant heart attack was a possibility. He just had too much love and heart for his physical body. It all happened so fast, but I held him as he took his last breath, and I was able to tell him I loved him the very most. I told him everyday I loved him more than anything in the world, and I reminded him of that over and over as he slipped out of this life. My best friend and boyfriend held us both. He gave me more than I could have ever given him, and I was able to thank him for allowing me to be his mom. He chose me. We got to experience so much together; he loved traveling on planes and looking out the window! He was the ultimate copilot in the car when he wasn’t dangerously sprawled out across my lap as I drove. He was so very loved by my family and friends and even “non dog people.” He mastered the “jump kiss,” and I always had to explain to people that he wouldn’t buy you dinner first, he just went in for the full make-out. In the last year of his life, he found fame! Over the course of 16 episodes of @queereye, in just a few moments on screen, you guys all got a glimpse of the Bru I knew and loved. He was hilarious, stubborn, sometimes inappropriate, and always a sucker for a snack. He was pure love. It’s been so fun capturing his spirit and sharing more with you all here. I’ve taken a few days to process and grieve and figure out what’s next. I’ve realized, I don’t want to stop sharing the best of Bru. I also want to show you a little of what it was like the last few months dealing with an ailing dog in heart failure as more and more dogs are being diagnosed with the same issues. I was so close to completing Bru’s website with long-awaited merch. I’ll get there in time. I’ve also been exploring non-profit opportunities and getting involved in bulldog rescue. There is so much Bru inspired, and it’s so much bigger than I even realized. (Cont. below)

A post shared by Bruley and Olee (@bruley) on Oct 3, 2019 at 11:38am PDT

Bruley first showed up in the third season of Queer Eye. The Los Angeles-based Silva had been hired to work on the St. Louis-based episodes for Seasons 3 & 4, and she brought Bruley along with her for the adventure. As she told Decider’s Brett White earlier this year, “Bru is my sidekick in life–he pretty much goes where I go, but he has an adventurous (and hungry) spirit. He liked to wander in and out of the loft while I was working in our production office, and the rest is history.”

According to Silva, she’s taken a few days to process the loss of the pet and best friend she calls her “whole heart…love bug…best friend…constant…soul mate…everything.” She adds, “I’ve taken a few days to process and grieve and figure out what’s next. I’ve realized, I don’t want to stop sharing the best of Bru. I also want to show you a little of what it was like the last few months dealing with an ailing dog in heart failure as more and more dogs are being diagnosed with the same issues.”

Silva adds that she is exploring non-profit opportunities with the bulldog community, and still wants to launch an official Bruley website with merchandise.

“The grief is enormous, but my love for him now and forever is bigger,” Silva wrote.

To honor Bruley and the positive energy he brought to the world of Queer Eye, here’s a quick look at our favorite Bruley moments:

We love you, Bruley! Rest in peace, and love to your human, Michelle!

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