'Miracle May' Survives Fall From Sky After Bird Attack

They say cats have nine lives, but what about dogs?

Nurses at a Canadian nursing home found a poodle that survived a horrific fall on the property after fighting her way free from a bird of prey that had snatched her from the ground on May 2, according to National Post.

Veterinarians said the pooch, named "Miracle May," had broken ribs and several deep gouges on her neck and claw marks in her back from the encounter with the bird.

Doctors suspect May, who is about six years old, was a stray because her nails were overgrown and her teeth were severely decayed.

Donations poured in to the British Columbia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, which paid for the extensive dental surgery she needed.

"We don’t know how long she had been wandering without care but she was obviously very neglected," said British Columbia Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals manager Shannon Broderick in a statement. "It’s ironic, but this bird may have saved her life."

After she recuperates from the operations, May will be put up for adoption, the New York Daily News notes.

Comments

[Sarah Jampole Marks]

04:25 PM on 05/21/2011

The reporter got the breed wrong--the cute dog isn't a Poodle, but a Bichon Frise. You can tell by the curly coat, the curl of the tail, the set of the ears, the length and size of the snout, and finally the fact that the eyes have brown "halos" surrounding them. Poodles do NOT possess these traits--Bichons do :-) I only know this b/c I've owned Bichons--and only Bichons--my entire life.

[PghStlrFan]

12:54 AM on 05/23/2011

Looks more like a Cockapoo than a Bichon.

[Rock Jocelyn]

06:57 PM on 06/08/2011

Yeah that's definitely a cockapoo.

[atexasdem]

10:36 AM on 05/23/2011

Why do I see Sarah naming her little Bichon "Snookums"? A predator would name it LUNCH.

[gebill910]

01:19 PM on 05/21/2011

Pooch 1 ... Eagle 0 ... Owners should get the bill, better yet, a visit from the Eagle.

[trainer3]

07:33 AM on 05/21/2011

God bless ya, baby.

A cutey pie.
Isn't life kind of exceptionally cool? At times.

[atexasdem]

10:38 AM on 05/23/2011

I love nature. Especially when it involves Alligators, Pythons, Eagles and little yappy dogs.

[pleasechooseanother]

12:36 PM on 05/20/2011

Sounds suspicious how did they know the dogs name was " MAY"

[brooksmd]

01:39 PM on 05/20/2011

Let me guess. They named her "Miracle May" because it was a miracle she survived the fall and it was in the month of May. It's called reading comprehension. DUH!!!

[pleasechooseanother]

01:52 PM on 05/20/2011

My doodness I would have not nerver thunk of that thanks fer the heads up.

[AdobePhsyko]

12:27 AM on 05/20/2011

Some Eagles drop their prey from WAY up, to kill it. Then they swoop back down ,grab it,and fly up to the nest.

[atexasdem]

10:53 AM on 05/23/2011

That would be more fun than a bug zapper and a six pack of beer.

[Metacarius]

12:17 AM on 05/20/2011

The good me is thinking, 'Wow! Lucky dog! Can't believe it actually managed to get away! Awesome!'

Bad me is only thinking about Denis Leary and the potential 'Poodle Man' that could have been created from this incident.

[The Lorax]

09:48 PM on 05/19/2011

Lucky dog! I hope you have a full and speedy recovery.

[atexasdem]

03:01 AM on 05/21/2011

Unlucky Eagle, lost it's lunch.

[Sergeant]

07:13 PM on 05/19/2011

I am just guessing that the bird thought she was a rabbit. Must have been a big surprise when the rabbit started snarling and biting.

[Hell Yeah Im Uhmercan]

07:50 PM on 05/19/2011

I am sure the bird knew that she was lunch.

[Sergeant]

09:50 AM on 05/23/2011

Bet that little poodle was one mean dog after surviving in the wild for awhile.

[atexasdem]

03:03 AM on 05/21/2011

Now if that same bird would just catch that yappy neighbors little dog. Never an Eagle around when you need one.

[atexasdem]

11:03 AM on 05/23/2011

Sounds like more fun than a bug zapper and a six pack.

[Steelsil]

06:29 PM on 05/19/2011

Is that really a poodle?

[Sarah Jampole Marks]

04:19 PM on 05/21/2011

I agree with you--the breed is definitely NOT a poodle. It's a Bichon Frise! You can tell by the coat, the length and lay of the ears, the tail--how it curls and the length of the "hair," the snout--the size and shape of it, and finally the eyes. Poodles do NOT have "halos" around the eyes, whereas Bichons are KNOWN for their halos. The reporters DEFINITELY got the breed wrong . ..

[atexasdem]

10:47 AM on 05/23/2011

You mean all that crusty stuff around the eyes is called a "halo"? All these years I've been referring to it "ick".

[darquelourd]

04:17 PM on 05/19/2011

stupid fools this is obviously an early warning that the apocalypse is coming

[Thinkster]

09:40 PM on 05/19/2011

So - the dog was being lifted up to the rapture - lucky little beggar....

[darquelourd]

11:23 AM on 05/20/2011

what if Jesus came back as a Poodle?

[GCurry]

04:02 PM on 05/19/2011

I remember reading a story within the last month of an owl trying to carry off a chihuahua, while his owner was taking him for a walk, leashed. The owner pulled him down from the owl's claws, while both were airborne.

Seriously, if this little poodle has the spirit to fight for his life like that, I say give him a fighting chance in a home that loves dogs. I suspect people will be fighting for him.

[keverdene]

04:17 PM on 05/19/2011

Yup. Here's a link to that story... http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2011/01/17/owl-attacks-chihuahua-in-crystal-lake/

[CoastalNC]

03:40 PM on 05/19/2011

OMG....that is exactly what my husband keeps saying is going to happen to our toy poodle.

[penndl]

04:25 PM on 05/19/2011

Banning DDT helped restore the bird of prey populations. They can be found virtually everywhere. Particularly in and around wooded areas. Just look up sometime, those slowly gliding birds are not pigeons.

[CoastalNC]

11:53 AM on 05/20/2011

I live next to a wooded area, guess I need to be more observant. :-)

[atexasdem]

03:06 AM on 05/21/2011

Move a little farther south. Alligators and Pythons dine on poodles all the time in Florida.

[CoastalNC]

07:12 PM on 05/21/2011

:-) No thanks, think I'll stay here where I am. We have possums running around the outside of our fence and a bunch of small lizards and a small snake now and then but that's about the worst of it.

[Sergeant]

09:55 AM on 05/23/2011

Alligators and pythons. The answer to yappy dogs.

[mikala]

03:39 PM on 05/19/2011

So people in Canada should go to the Vet for care. You may not be a monster but you should think before you post.

[YouJustSaidWhat]

03:50 PM on 05/19/2011

some people are d.umb as rocks....these forums are filled with this type of person.

[JohnnyRivers]

07:01 PM on 05/19/2011

I was speaking to the donations pouring in to pay the vet bills. Saving the cute little dog is a nice thing, but, that bird is not going to miss dinner. There is a cute little bunny that isn't going to make it back home tonight. It's Gods way.

[YouJustSaidWhat]

03:42 PM on 05/19/2011

Veterinarians do not treat people...how old are you?

[darquelourd]

04:21 PM on 05/19/2011

showing that famous American cultural bias, eh?

[JohnnyRivers]

09:10 PM on 05/19/2011

The vet money can help poor homeless Canadians.

[lightist]

03:15 PM on 05/19/2011

My imagination had her falling from a plane, but a big bird is good too. Almost better, actually.

[birdlady5]

02:57 PM on 05/19/2011

I hope this puppy can now find a good home and nice people to take care of her!

[darquelourd]

04:23 PM on 05/19/2011

It already has its own reality show and is living in a trailer on one of the Fox backlots with the OctoMom.