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香蕉视频直播檚 owner, Eileen Stevens, of Golden Maples Farm in Cassidy.

香蕉视频直播淢y horse is very badly injured, she香蕉视频直播檚 missing her left ear, but she香蕉视频直播檚 a fighter 香蕉视频直播� and she香蕉视频直播檚 going to recover,香蕉视频直播� Stevens said.

The dogs broke through her stucco wire fence 香蕉视频直播渓ike it was spaghetti香蕉视频直播� 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.

香蕉视频直播淚t was so frightening because it was all happening so fast, but it seemed like so long香蕉视频直播ο憬妒悠抵辈�� Stevens said. 香蕉视频直播淚 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香蕉视频直播檛 have full hearing because I couldn香蕉视频直播檛 hear her scream. Because horses will scream.香蕉视频直播�

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香蕉视频直播檚 response. She said he surrendered his animals to be euthanized and is paying all her veterinary bills.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 such an unfortunate accident because this man has lost his two dogs now and they香蕉视频直播檙e family pets香蕉视频直播ο憬妒悠抵辈�� Stevens said. 香蕉视频直播淚 know his pain, because I香蕉视频直播檝e had to put animals down before and I香蕉视频直播檓 just hoping and praying that we don香蕉视频直播檛 have to do that with HaliBerry, that she香蕉视频直播檚 going to pull out of this.香蕉视频直播�

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, 香蕉视频直播渢hen yes, it could have been worse, but no, it wasn香蕉视频直播檛 worse.香蕉视频直播�

Scruton said although treating a horse for dog bites isn香蕉视频直播檛 common, it comes down to wound management. Cleaning up the wounds took a long time and the horse was given antibiotics.

香蕉视频直播淥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,香蕉视频直播� he said.

Scruton said psychologically, the horse seems normal.

香蕉视频直播淪he was in a lot of pain and suffering and shock for the first day, but she香蕉视频直播檚 very interactive [now],香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淚 have photos of her playing with my son yesterday.香蕉视频直播�

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Stevens said she once owned a pit bull 香蕉视频直播渁nd it was a lovely animal香蕉视频直播� and said she thinks Monday香蕉视频直播檚 attack was just a case of dogs getting together and having a 香蕉视频直播減ack mentality.香蕉视频直播�

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香蕉视频直播檚 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.

香蕉视频直播淪he香蕉视频直播檚 that gentle. Everybody falls in love with her,香蕉视频直播� Stevens said.

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