SAN ANTONIO — This week marks Animal Cruelty Awareness Week, and an effort to raise awareness about animal cruelty happening locally is a story of "Hope."
Hope is a six week old puppy on the road to a miraculous recovery.
"When I first picked her up, she had blood gushing down her face. She was limp," said Brittany Esparza, Hope's medical foster at the Bee Pawsitive Husky Rescue.
Esparza says she was called to pick up Hope and was told she was attacked by another dog, but Esparza says she was skeptical that's what actually happened.
"It was very clear it wasn't a bite wound. There was a gunshot wound to the head," said Esparza.
Veterinarian Dr. Brady Hanson, says Hope was hours away from death.
"She had head trauma. We found out she had other illnesses concurrently and you know we didn't really have a whole lot of hope," said Dr. Hanson.
An x-ray revealed a skull fracture. Dr. Hanson says the wounds didn't match up with a dog attack.
"It's hard to give a dog, a solitary wound by biting it, especially a larger dog. There should have been a lot more trauma to the soft tissues around that wound as well, that shouldn't have been the only thing there," said Dr. Hanson.
No fragments from the bullet were found, but Dr. Hanson says the wound was likely caused by a bullet.
"There was a huge deficit in her forehead, and some sort of traumatic wound," said Dr. Hanson.
He says he performed surgery to repair the head trauma Hope suffered.
Blood loss from the trauma, and a diagnosis of parvo, tapeworms, and hookworms contributed to Hope developing anemia. The anemia required several blood transfusions. Through it all, she's expected to be ok.
"She's very bright and alert. She's got no neurologic signs, which is, you know, was one of my biggest concerns with head trauma and a fractured skull. She is acting like a normal puppy. She's very energetic at this point," said Dr. Hanson.
Esparza says when she gave Hope her name, it was all she had for her.
"Hope just seems so fitting for her because everybody wanted to give up. Doctors wanted to give up, other rescues, so many people had given up and said to euthanize her, but she didn't give up," said Esparza.
Hopes treatment has cost thousands of dollars, so to help with medical cost Bee Pawsitive Husky Rescue who is facilitating her treatment, has started a Cuddly account where you can donate.
You can also donate directly to Bee Pawsitive Husky Rescue.