CORDOVA, N.M. – A northern New Mexico family is thanking their 12-year-old half-blind dog for fighting off a bear and protecting dozens of animals including 60 chickens.
The Martinez family said their dog Honey got hurt on the night of March 3 while tracking something on their family land in Cordova, where they raise chickens, horses and dogs.
“She was tracking something at the time. We didn’t know what, but we knew she was tracking something,” said Denise Martinez.
The family said they found Honey in the driveway the next morning with major injuries. They said they saw scratches on fences and trees, along with other signs a bear had been in the area.
“Her face was swollen on the left, so I turned her head like to the right, and that’s when I saw, like her whole neck was just ripped from the back all the way down,” said Leanna Martinez.
Getting care for Honey
Darren Martinez said they took Honey to an emergency vet for overnight care.
“It was just devastating. You know, I never thought I would ever see our dog in that shape,” said Darren Martinez.
The family said emergency care cost more than they could easily afford, so they turned to Española Humane’s clinic for lower-cost urgent animal care in Rio Arriba County.
“Her face was so hugely swollen I mean you couldn’t even tell features in her face,” said Mattie Allen with Española Humane.
Española Humane treated Honey’s neck wound and gave her regular bandage changes and medication for less than the family’s original estimate.
“Everyone cares about their animals, and some people just don’t have enough money to pay for thousands and thousands of dollars of care that is required,” said Allen.
Honey still has an open wound that will heal from the inside out, and her family said that will take months.
“She’s our little savior. 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,” said Denise Martinez.
How you can help Española Humane
Española Humane said urgent care is only available in Rio Arriba County right now, and the organization hopes to expand that care in the future.
A link to donate and help Española Humane is available here.
