Dog that survived ax attack gets new home

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - A dog found wandering in the middle of Albuquerque with what appeared to be an ax wound to its head has a second life after a full recovery and a move into a new home.

It has been a long road for Katy Bug, a 3-year-old Great Dane-pit bull mix that was brought to Animal Humane of New Mexico after emergency surgery to repair a horrific gash to her head.

“If you look closely you can kind of see a scar from her injury,” Animal Humane spokesperson Dawn Glass said.

Glass said in June good Samaritans, now called Katy's heroes, found the badly injured dog by chance.

“She was found wandering underneath the Montaño Bridge with a towel wrapped around her head, and she appeared to be in a daze,” Glass said.

When the blood-soaked rag was removed the good Samaritans saw a huge gash to the top of her head. Animal experts said whatever hit her ripped through her muscles.

“The vets there guessed she could have been hit by an ax,” Glass said.

Katy Bug was rushed to the Petroglyph Animal Hospital and into surgery.

However, it was still too early to know for sure if she would make a full recovery and if she did whether she would trust humans again.

“They definitely think someone intentionally hit this dog on the top of her head,” Glass said.

Months after the horrible attack Katy Bug is just as playful as if the abuse never happened. Friday, she met her new owner Kerstin Clark.

“Are you ready to go home, beautiful?” Clark said.

Clark didn't hear Katy Bug's story of survival until after she fell in love with her picture online.

“Its hard to think about her going through that, but I know she's going to be completely spoiled and loved,” Clark said.

Animal Humane said veterinarians were worried that Katy Bug would have brain damage but there are no signs of that.

The scar and a little droopy right eye are the only visible sign from the abuse, which Animal Humane says just gives her more character.

Animal Humane said Katy Bug had a microchip when she was found, but the person it went back to claims she gave the dog away long before the attack. She refused to say who she gave the dog to.

Animal Humane is asking anyone who might have information about the abuse to contact them.

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Online:  KRQE Pet of the Week