A fearless, half-blind elderly dog was almost killed saving her family and dozens of farm animals from a hungry bear that broke into their home.
The 12-year-old pooch, Honey, was barely recognizable because of the “unbelievable” swelling to her body and face from battling the bear, which was hungry and fresh out of hibernation, according to her owners and the animal rescue that treated her.
“She’s our little savior,” owner Denise Martinez told KOB 4.
“She’s been nicknamed the bear slayer — and we’ve just come to find out that the bear slayer is afraid of the vacuum cleaner,” she joked.
The bear crept onto the family’s property in Cordova, New Mexico, late March 3 and tried to break into the chicken coop for a quick snack — but Honey wouldn’t have it.
“We’ll never know exactly how it unfolded in the dark of that night, but we know this: Honey stood her ground against something she had no business fighting,” said the Española Humane animal clinic, whose staff saved the dog’s life.
“She took the hits so no one else would have to, and she drove a predator away from everything she loves.”
Surveillance video later showed that Honey had fended off the bear multiple times — but the family didn’t realize until the next morning when the elderly dog was found lying in the driveway, wounded.
“Her whole neck was ripped from the back all the way down,” Leanna Martinez said.
They found evidence that a bear had been around the property, including claw scratches on fences and trees.
Thinking the injuries could be fatal, the Martinez family rushed the dog to an emergency care center. But because of the high costs, they turned to Española Humane’s urgent care clinic in Rio Arriba County for treatment.
Honey’s “face was so hugely swollen — I mean you couldn’t even tell features in her face,” said Mattie Allen with Española Humane.
The rescue said Honey’s “catastrophic” injuries included a degloving wound from her neck to her face, deep puncture wounds and “unbelievable” bruising and swelling.
Honey continues to recover after undergoing surgeries to stitch her back together.
She’s been taking her medicine “like a champ” and has shown “quiet, stubborn courage” while resting with other animals, according to the rescue.
“Honey didn’t just survive. She stood between her family and danger, and chose them—over and over again, even when it could have cost her everything,” Espanola Humane said.
“And because of her family’s love, a community who cares, and a little bit of Honey Badger badassery…this half blind sassy senior is still here.”