A therapeutic miniature horse is now the one requiring care after its ear was bitten off in an attack by two pit bulls south of Nanaimo on Monday.
The two-and-a-half-foot-tall horse, named HaliBerry, was first attacked by the dogs in its stall and the attack continued out into the field, said the horse害羞草研究所檚 owner, Eileen Stevens, of Golden Maples Farm in Cassidy.
害羞草研究所淢y horse is very badly injured, she害羞草研究所檚 missing her left ear, but she害羞草研究所檚 a fighter 害羞草研究所� and she害羞草研究所檚 going to recover,害羞草研究所� Stevens said.
The dogs broke through her stucco wire fence 害羞草研究所渓ike it was spaghetti害羞草研究所� and Stevens spotted them outside her door when she went to take her horse for its morning walk. After she realized what was happening, she phoned her brother who came right away, and the two of them tried to fight off the dogs with a walker and a broom.
害羞草研究所淚t was so frightening because it was all happening so fast, but it seemed like so long害羞草研究所π卟菅芯克鶟 Stevens said. 害羞草研究所淚 just wish I could stop the pictures in my head. To see her running and then when that dog got her ear, part of me says, thank God I don害羞草研究所檛 have full hearing because I couldn害羞草研究所檛 hear her scream. Because horses will scream.害羞草研究所�
Stevens said she decided to talk to the media about the incident both to correct some misinformation that was spreading, and also to let people know about the dog owner害羞草研究所檚 response. She said he surrendered his animals to be euthanized and is paying all her veterinary bills.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 such an unfortunate accident because this man has lost his two dogs now and they害羞草研究所檙e family pets害羞草研究所π卟菅芯克鶟 Stevens said. 害羞草研究所淚 know his pain, because I害羞草研究所檝e had to put animals down before and I害羞草研究所檓 just hoping and praying that we don害羞草研究所檛 have to do that with HaliBerry, that she害羞草研究所檚 going to pull out of this.害羞草研究所�
The horse is going to survive, said Colin Scruton, equine surgeon at Equerry Equine Surgery and Sports Medicine hospital in Nanaimo. He said if the bites near a joint had become infected, or if the bites had punctured the abdomen, 害羞草研究所渢hen yes, it could have been worse, but no, it wasn害羞草研究所檛 worse.害羞草研究所�
Scruton said although treating a horse for dog bites isn害羞草研究所檛 common, it comes down to wound management. Cleaning up the wounds took a long time and the horse was given antibiotics.
害羞草研究所淥ur next challenge is to allow the wounds time to heal and hopefully where there once was an ear canal, for the wound to [heal] so at some point we can skin graft it in the future,害羞草研究所� he said.
Scruton said psychologically, the horse seems normal.
害羞草研究所淪he was in a lot of pain and suffering and shock for the first day, but she害羞草研究所檚 very interactive [now],害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淚 have photos of her playing with my son yesterday.害羞草研究所�
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Stevens said she once owned a pit bull 害羞草研究所渁nd it was a lovely animal害羞草研究所� and said she thinks Monday害羞草研究所檚 attack was just a case of dogs getting together and having a 害羞草研究所減ack mentality.害羞草研究所�
Stevens said a farrier, who is a friend of hers, has agreed to look after HaliBerry for the time being. Stevens said she might start up a GoFundMe to build a new shed because she害羞草研究所檚 concerned the existing stall will no longer seem like a safe space for her horse. The therapeutic care HaliBerry has provided will be on hold. Stevens said some people like to brush and talk to the horse, or a two-year-old might just sit on the horse and giggle.
害羞草研究所淪he害羞草研究所檚 that gentle. Everybody falls in love with her,害羞草研究所� Stevens said.
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