Rio is on the road to recovery.
The miniature therapy horse was viciously mauled by a cougar in November in Maple Ridge.
“These were very deep puncture wounds and they're healing so well. And last week he wouldn't let me touch them and this week he is,” said Rio’s owner Barb Tunshell. “I finally a week ago stopped crying every time I looked at him.”
But Rio's wounds are more than physical.
Tunshell said Rio trusts her, but is nervous when other people come near him.
Helping Rio recover is his friend Chaka, also a rescue horse, who stayed by his side during his 10-day long stay with a veterinarian.
Chaka and Rio work with Tunshell’s daughter who has special needs, and are also used for therapy in senior’s homes.
“These horses, for how little they are, have had so many hugs and so many tears cried on them and so many smiles,” Tunshell said.
Rio has received financial support through a GoFundMe page from strangers across Canada and the United States.
Tunshell said Rio would not be where he is today had it not been for the caring and support of complete strangers.