- A 12-year-old half-blind dog named Honey fought off a bear in New Mexico
- The bear tried to break into the chicken coop but was stopped by Honey
- Honey was severely injured and found wounded the next morning by her family
A half-blind, 12-year-old dog is being hailed for its courage after fending off a bear in New Mexico, single-handedly protecting her family and dozens of farm animals. Honey's owner, Denise Martinez of New Mexico's Cordova community, said the bear was fresh out of hibernation and looking for a hunt when it locked horns with the elderly pooch.
Nicknamed the 'bear slayer', Honey was barely recognisable because of the "unbelievable" swelling to her body and face from battling the bear, according to a report in The Guardian. The incident took place on March 3 when the bear tried to break into the chicken coop, only to be stopped by a fearless Honey.
Surveillance video later showed that Honey managed to ward off the bear multiple times. However, the family didn't realise until the next morning when the elderly dog was found lying in the driveway, wounded.
Afterwards, Honey's owners brought her to an urgent care clinic run by the non-profit Espanola Humane. There, she underwent surgery and endured daily bandage changes while taking a battery of medications.
"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," Espanola Humane wrote on Facebook.
"She took the hits so no one else would have to, and she drove a predator away from everything she loves."
Also Read | 'Go For Rafale': R Madhavan's Old Tweets Resurface, Internet Hails His Defence Acumen
Honey, who has previously survived Parvo and a run-in with a porcupine that left her half-blind, continues to recover after undergoing surgeries to stitch her back together.
"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."
