SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, Calif. (KSBW) – A California dog owner said her pet was viciously attacked by a mountain lion, but she credits love for helping her through the healing process.

Richard Baker said his dog, Bella, went outside and returned about 30 minutes later with bite marks all over her body, even though one pierced her skull.

“The slice that was on her neck was above her ear and around her neck,” Baker said. “It was millimeters from her jugular vein – that’s what the doctor said. It was amazing that the cat didn’t tear it. Millimeters is quite small.”

Bella was rushed from Baker’s home in the mountains in critical condition to veterinary specialists at a 24-hour emergency clinic.

With severe injuries, Bella was close to becoming septic and her chances of survival were slim.

“My first reaction, to be honest, was I don’t know if I can save her,” said veterinarian Nick Macy.

“She has that fighter instinct,” Baker said, adding that the love of her family helped her keep fighting.

Caring for wounds of this nature is a long process. He is still battling an ongoing infection, but is making a remarkable recovery.

Her vet hopes she will make a full recovery by mid-November.

Copyright 2024 KSBW via CNN Newsource. All rights reserved.