'It's a miracle' Puppy survives being plucked from ground by hawk mistaking him for prey

A MIRACLE puppy came within a whisker of being crushed in the powerful talons of a marauding hawk.

The tiny Chihuahua weighing less than a pound was picked up by the mighty bird of prey and carried off into the air. Only the screams of a shocked witness watching the gruesome scenes are thought to have forced the ravenous hawk to drop the puppy mid-air. As the puppy displays the scars left by the flesh-puncturing talons, dog lovers are clamouring to give the four week old scamp a home.

He has now been named in honour of skateboarding superstar Tony Hawk, a fitting reference to his thirst for adventure and also his run-in with one of the natural world’s most successful predators.

The likeliest culprit was a red-tailed hawk, America’s equivalent of the buzzard with a wing-span of more than four-foot, a razor-sharp beak and a liking for squirrels, rats and other small mammals.

When nobody came forward to claim the puppy after his ordeal at the weekend, he was taken to the Austin Animal Center in Texas.

Animal fosterer Renee Keyes is now looking after the puppy who appears a lot healthier than when he was rushed into the centre for emergency care.

Tiny Chihuahua puppy after being attacked by hawk

Miracle puppy Tony Hawk after surviving bird of prey attack (Image: Austin Animal Center/Facebook)

Tony Hawk the puppy receiving emergency care

Tony Hawk the puppy receives emergency treatment after run-in with raptor (Image: Austin Animal Center/Facebook)

Ms Keyes explained: “He's tiny so you can easily see why he might be mistaken for a rat or other prey.

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"From what I heard he was picked up by a hawk and then I guess the person who saw it happen screamed or yelled and he was dropped in mid-air.

“My youngest son actually named him Tony Hawk. I thought it was ingenious.”

With no bones broken and the puncture wounds to his head and ear healing, it is hoped that Tony Hawk the puppy will be ready for adoption in four weeks.

While urban foxes are the likeliest wild creatures to pose a threat to pets in the United Kingdom, built-up areas of the United States are literally a jungle when it comes to predatory wildlife. Black bears, coyotes, mountain lions and bobcats are known to attack cats and dogs, while there is also an aerial threat from red-tailed hawks and great horned owls.

Close up of red-tailed hawk's razor-sharp beak

The terrifying view the puppy would have had of red-tailed hawk (Image: GETTY)

Red-tailed hawk lunges after squirrel

Red-tailed hawk swooping down on squirrel (Image: GETTY)

In a reminder to pet owners to beware the threat from wild creatures, the Austin Animal Center told Facebook followers: “This teeny tiny guy was picked up by a hawk and then subsequently dropped from mid-air.

"It's a miracle that he not only survived, but that the wounds on his head and chest are fairly mild.

"This sweetie is now recovering in a foster home for the next few weeks.

"Let the puppy’s story be a reminder to protect your small pets from wildlife.

"Hawks, owls and coyotes will prey on small animals, even in your fenced backyard. If you have small pets, keep eyes on them at all times while outside.”

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