A puppy received only a 5 percent chance of survival after being bitten by an adult dog; however, he proved he’s a fighter.
Panic rushed through Katie Kashen’s body when the puppies managed to escape their pen, leading to all eight swarming the family’s adult dog. The 120-pound canine’s confusion resulted in a growl and a warning bite, Kashen told Newsweek via TikTok.
“It was not a malicious attack, but an unfortunate consequence of a perfect storm: curious puppies and a brief lapse in containment,” she said.
However, it did cause a health scare for Colt, one of the 7-week-old golden retriever puppies. The bite happened at his skull, fracturing it in three separate places, a July 2 TikTok video posted to Kashen’s account, @yogi.ish, explained.
The first veterinarian gave him a 5 percent survival rate and would likely suffer from severe neurological damage. The veterinarian advised the family to consider euthanasia. But Kashen and Colt knew they could beat the odds.
A close friend of the family, a trauma-trained veterinarian, offered to take Colt in and gave him around-the-clock care, Kashen said. He suffered two seizures due to the swelling in his brain.
He earned the title of “miracle puppy,” as his age and flexibility of developing bones helped his body heal better than anyone expected, Kashen said. He never needed surgery. Colt did, however, lose vision in his one eye, but a neurologist cleared him, and he rocks a custom eye cover.
Now, Colt’s enjoying time with his forever family, Kashen’s brother and sister-in-law. They were the perfect match, as they had their miracle child with them, a fighter son who received an acute myeloid leukemia diagnosis at 4 years old.
“The boy, Braden, also beat the odds and has now been in remission for three years—and he and Colt are now growing up together, two miracle boys who defied expectations!” Kashen said. “The entire experience has been a rollercoaster, but we’re so grateful for the outpouring of love and the happy ending Colt gets to live every single day.”
Since the incident, Kashen said they have taken additional measures to keep future puppies from escaping the pen. Plus, they had Colt’s mother spayed.
Viewer Reactions
The happy ending resonated with TikTok users and, as of Thursday, the video amassed over 360,500 views and 44,300 likes.
“Katie, I have so much respect for people like you. Dogs are worthy of all efforts. Thank you for being an example for all of us,” wrote one person.
Another added: “I kept it together until you showed who adopted him. They were meant to be.”
A third user commented: “The perfect dog for the perfect family.”
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