Editor’s note: This story contains graphic images.
A Holly Springs couple said their dog is recovering after being attacked by a deer at their home.
The married couple rescued their beagle, Millie, in 2011.
The husband told WRAL News that he let her out and was inside feeding the cats when he heard Millie yelp.
When he went outside to check on her, he found a stag in his yard.
“I went out to shoo the stag away,” he said. “And when I did that, he put his head down to show me his antlers and started to scrape and groan kind of in an aggressive manner.”
When Millie came inside, he said something was clearly wrong.
“She was in shock,” he said. “She was shivering like crazy and just very distressed.”
They rushed her to a veterinarian hospital at Main Street Square. He said Millie was pretty sore and bruised up by the time they got there.
“We didn’t know the extent of the damage until we brought her to the vet,” he told WRAL.
The vet told them something stuck Millie somewhat deep, but it didn’t penetrate the muscle. The vet told them if the muscle had been penetrated, the outcome could have been much different.
“I guess she got lucky and unlucky at the same time,” her owner said.
He said the vet had to drain fluid from the beagle and stitch her up.
Millie’s dad said the vet couldn’t say with certainty that she had been attacked by the stag, but he’s fairly certain that’s what happened. He said he had noticed the deer hanging around their yard for quite a while that day.
Thankfully, Millie is back home recovering.
“She’s definitely recovering pretty well, which is good, but it was an ordeal for her for sure,” he said.
The couple is using their experience to warn others.
“Be aware,” he said. “Pay attention, especially if you’re in a wooded neighborhood.”
This wouldn’t be the first time a deer attacked a dog. There have been several instances of dogs, and even people, being attacked by stags in Colorado.
Experts said stags can be more aggressive during mating season.
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