'She is one of the most loving dogs I ever met': Man adopts dog he saved after stabbing
Brad Chambers didn't just save a badly injured dog from death. He gave her a forever home.
Chambers found a pitbull named Smoke badly bleeding from stab wounds under his truck in Portsmouth, Virginia.
"The stab wound penetrated so deep into her neck that it damaged her trachea," Chambers told WTKR.
Chambers said Smoke's owner was accused of stabbing the dog. The injuries were so severe that "air was escaping her chest cavity going into her lungs and heart."
First, Smoke was rushed to a nearby animal hospital. Eventually, she had surgery in North Carolina.
Her medical procedures cost $15,000. Some of that was covered by Chambers, while the rest came from fundraising.
Now, Chambers said Smoke is making steady progress.
"She has recovered almost fully from all the surgeries and she has tons of energy and her loyalty is pretty solid," he said. "She is one of the most loving dogs I ever met."
Smoke's former owner, who is now facing animal cruelty charges, forfeited ownership. Chambers adopted her.
"This is a dog who needs to find a place that everybody else around her can benefit from her lovingness," Chambers said.
His goal is for Smoke to become a certified therapy dog.
"We are gonna take extra steps to ensuring her safety and security and health and that this is a dog I get to share the next multiple seasons of my life with, and all the memories that are to be had," Chambers said.