‘Really a miracle.’ Torrington dog making full recovery weeks after bear attack
The attack happened July 8 in Torrington when Richard Hubbard brought the trash to the dumpster by his condo as he took his dog Kobe for on a walk.
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Three weeks after he was almost killed by a bear, a beagle-mix named Kobe is making a full recovery.
“They said it's really a miracle,” owner Richard Hubbard told News 12.
The attack happened July 8 in Torrington when Hubbard brought the trash to the dumpster by his condo as he took Kobe for on a walk. Hubbard said a bear emerged from behind the dumpster, and though Kobe was leashed, he started barking and pulling, then broke free. Hubbard had recently had knee surgery and couldn’t chase after Kobe, but the bear did and caught him.
Kobe suffered serious injuries, including a punctured trachea, and went to Pieper Memorial Veterinary Center in Middletown for emergency care, Hubbard said.
“They told me from Day 1 that it's a long road to recovery and to not get overly confident,” Hubbard recalled.
But each update from the vet was positive. And Kobe was able to come home after about a week. Last Wednesday, he got his stitches out.
“Pieper Memorial really did an incredible job,” Hubbard told News 12. “I think they were as happy as I was to see him recovering so well.”
And it's not just physically.
“He's wagging his tail all the time, and it didn't change his personality,” Hubbard said. “He's really back to his old self. I don't notice any difference.”
The same can't be said for Hubbard.
“For me, I'm still having nightmares about bears. I hope I don't see one again, at least not close up,” he told News 12.
Hubbard is just glad to have man's best friend back by his side. He’s grateful to everyone who’s made that happen including the community, who rallied around Kobe through a fundraising effort to help cover the costs of his care.
“All the donations and all the support, too. Honestly, everybody's been cheering him on,” Hubbard said.
PRIOR COVERAGE: ‘Heartbreaking.’ Torrington man details dog’s attack by bear; community rallies to help cover vet costs
