Mia Survived the Attack—Now She Needs Our Help to Keep Fighting

One moment changed Mia's life forever. This tiny five-year-old Yorkshire Terrier suffered a horrific attack by a much larger dog. The force of the attack threw her into the air and slammed her to the ground, leaving her critically injured and fighting for her life.

When Mia arrived at the animal hospital, her condition was devastating. She was in full-blown shock. Her jaw was shattered in two places. Multiple ribs were broken. Her lungs were severely bruised. Large sections of skin along her body had been torn open. The veterinary team immediately began lifesaving treatment, but Mia's injuries were so severe that she needed to be transferred to a specialty critical care hospital where advanced surgical and emergency teams could take over her care. That is where NYC Second Chance Rescue came in.

After rushing her to the special critical care hospital, Mia was stabilized enough to undergo surgery. But once surgeons began operating, they discovered the damage was even worse than anyone had hoped. Parts of Mia's jaw could not be saved. Her surgeons worked tirelessly to preserve as much function as possible and were able to save her lip, giving her the best chance at maintaining a functional mouth and quality of life moving forward.

Today, Mia remains in critical condition. She has survived the initial trauma and major surgery, but her journey is far from over. She continues to require around-the-clock monitoring, pain management, specialized nursing care, medications, diagnostics, and ongoing treatment as her battered body fights to heal. Despite the unimaginable pain she has endured, Mia continues to fight. Now NYC Second Chance Rescue is fighting right alongside her.

The cost of emergency critical care, specialty surgery, hospitalization, and recovery is substantial, but we refuse to let finances determine Mia's future. She deserves every opportunity to heal and experience the life that was nearly stolen from her.

Please consider making a donation to help cover Mia's emergency medical expenses and ongoing care. Every contribution helps give this brave little survivor another chance to recover, heal, and one day know a future filled with comfort, safety, and love. Thank you for standing with Mia during the fight of her life.

7/1/26 Update

We have some encouraging news to share about Mia.

If you remember, this tiny Yorkie was attacked by a much larger dog, suffering multiple broken ribs, devastating bite wounds, and a shattered jaw. She underwent emergency surgery to save her life, but complications followed, including a severe infection, dead tissue that required surgical removal, and another major surgery after her jaw repair failed.

Now, Mia is finally showing signs of progress. Her vital signs are stable, she's eating well, and she's moving both front legs a little better. While she still has some deficits, her medical team is hopeful they're caused by inflammation and her injuries rather than permanent damage.

Her wound cultures also confirmed she's already on the correct antibiotics, allowing her team to continue treating the infection with confidence.

Mia will remain hospitalized so her surgeon can reevaluate her. She still has a long road ahead, but today we're celebrating these small victories.

Thank you for keeping Mia in your thoughts and making her care possible. Your support is giving this little fighter every chance to heal. If you can donate to Mia's care, it would be so helpful for our rescue. Her vet bill is going to be a very large one- but we are not giving up on her.

7/7/26 Update

Because of your incredible generosity and support, Mia has officially been discharged from the hospital after weeks of intensive care, multiple surgeries, and around-the-clock treatment. Mia's journey has been nothing short of extraordinary. After suffering devastating injuries in an attack by a much larger dog, she underwent emergency surgery to repair her shattered jaw and treat her extensive wounds. Along the way, she faced heartbreaking setbacks, including a severe infection and another major surgery after her initial jaw repair failed. Through it all, this tiny fighter never gave up. As Mia's condition stabilized, we were finally able to learn the heartbreaking story behind how she came into our care.

Before surrendering Mia, her family had already emptied their bank accounts, spending more than $2,000 in a single hour trying to save her life. When they were told they simply could not afford the lifesaving treatment she needed, they made the impossible decision to surrender her to the hospital, praying that a rescue would step in and give her the chance they desperately wanted for her. They never stopped loving her.

When NYC Second Chance Rescue contacted them to share the incredible news that Mia had survived—and that, thanks to your generosity, there was a chance she could come home—they collapsed to the floor in tears. Today, we are beyond thrilled to share that Mia is exactly where she belongs: back in the arms of the family who loves her so deeply.

While her recovery isn't over, and she'll continue to need follow-up appointments and ongoing medical care, she now gets to heal in the comfort of her own home, surrounded by the people who never stopped fighting for her.

To every single person who donated, shared Mia's story, and kept her in your thoughts, thank you. Your compassion did more than save one little dog's life—you reunited a family that thought they had lost their beloved companion forever.

As Mia continues her recovery, her veterinary bills remain significant. If you're able to make a donation, your gift will help cover her ongoing follow-up care and allow NYC Second Chance Rescue to say "yes" to the next critically injured animal who has nowhere else to turn

7/15/26 Update

After everything she has endured, Mia continues to make steady progress in her recovery. This brave little Yorkie has overcome unimaginable obstacles—from surviving a devastating dog attack and multiple emergency surgeries to battling a serious infection and weeks of intensive hospitalization. While her journey has been long, she continues to show us just how resilient she is.

Mia is now recovering at home with the family who never stopped loving her. Being back in a familiar environment, surrounded by the people who fought so hard for her, has made all the difference. She continues to attend follow-up appointments with her veterinary team to closely monitor her healing, and while she still has a road ahead of her, she is growing stronger every day.

Her recovery remains a gradual process. She is still receiving ongoing medical care, medications, and regular evaluations to ensure her jaw and injuries continue to heal properly. Every small milestone is a reminder of how far she has come since the day she arrived fighting for her life.

We are so grateful to everyone who has donated, shared Mia's story, and kept her in your thoughts. Your generosity made it possible for her to receive lifesaving emergency care, specialty surgery, hospitalization, and the continued treatment she needs today.

If you're able to support Mia's ongoing medical care, your donation will help cover her follow-up visits and remaining veterinary expenses while also allowing NYC Second Chance Rescue to continue saying "yes" to other critically injured animals in desperate need.

Thank you for being part of Mia's remarkable journey. We look forward to sharing more happy updates as this courageous little survivor continues to heal.

7/28/26 Update

We are thrilled to share that Mia has officially been discharged from the hospital after weeks of intensive care, multiple surgeries, and around-the-clock treatment.

Her journey has been incredibly difficult. After suffering devastating injuries from an attack by a larger dog, Mia underwent emergency surgery, battled a serious infection, and required additional surgery when her initial jaw repair failed.

As she stabilized, we learned the full story behind her surrender. Her family had already emptied their bank accounts, spending over $2,000 in a single hour trying to save her. When they could no longer afford her lifesaving treatment, they made the heartbreaking decision to surrender her to the hospital in hopes that a rescue could step in. They never stopped loving her.

When we reached out to inform them that, thanks to Waggle's generosity, Mia survived and could return home, they were overcome with emotion. Today, Mia is back where she belongs, with the family who loves her so deeply.

While her recovery is not over, she still faces multiple follow-up appointments and continued medical care, she now gets to heal surrounded by her family.

Thank you and everyone at Waggle who donated, shared her story, and stood by Mia. You didn’t just save her life; you gave a family their beloved dog back.