Six-year-old miniature horse, Rio, is finally healing after a vicious cougar mauling.
Rio, a therapy horse, was attacked back in November at a farm in Maple Ride, B.C.
The attack by a rare black cougar left him in critical condition, with deep puncture wounds to his face, head and throat.
A month later, his owner Barb Tunshell says Rio is finally beginning to heal properly.
“These were very deep puncture wounds and they're healing so well. And last week he wouldn't let me touch them and this week he is,” Tunshell says. “I finally a week ago stopped crying every time I looked at him.”
Rio works with Tunshell’s daughter who has special needs. He is also used as a therapy horse at a seniors’ home.
With more than 150 puncture wounds on his tiny frame, Rio had to endure 10 days at a vet hospital. Thankfully his friend and Tunshell’s other rescue therapy horse, Chaka, was at his side the whole time.
“They don't go anywhere one without the other. They were in hospital together,” Tunshell says.
Thanks to the altruistic help and financial support from strangers all over the world, Rio’s physical wounds are almost healed.
But his psychological wounds are still there.
“He’ll come to me but other people he’ll go and stand behind me. He’s nervous,” Tunshell says.
She is hoping that her beloved horse learns to trust again so he can go back to helping others.
“These horses, for how little they are, have had so many hugs and so many tears cried on them and so many smiles,” she says.
“One of the most important things to do is to get him back used to being touched everywhere.”
With a report from CTV Vancouver’s Michele Brunoro
