A 25-year-old Arizona resident, Kalista Munoz, has recently shared her harrowing experience of being attacked by a stray dog she had taken in, an incident that led to the loss of her arm. Munoz, a passionate animal lover, was left in a coma for several days following the July attack and had to undergo 18 surgeries, including the amputation of her severely damaged right arm.
Munoz, a student at the time, was already providing care for several foster animals when she decided to take in Zona, a stray dog discovered by a friend. For three months, Zona lived peacefully with Munoz and her other pets until a fight broke out between Zona and one of the other dogs.
In an attempt to control the situation, Munoz tried to confine Zona in a bathroom. However, she ended up trapped in the room with the agitated dog. By the time she managed to reach the door, her right arm had been severely bitten. Munoz’s cries for help went unanswered for nearly half an hour before a neighbor alerted the police.
Despite the traumatic incident, Munoz remained determined to survive. She spent a month in the hospital, during which she was in a coma for several days. Eventually, due to an infection, her mangled arm had to be amputated. The report did not specify the breed of the stray dog or what happened to Zona following the attack.
Reflecting on the incident, Munoz said, “He was a really good dog but something was abused and imprinted in him.” Six months after the life-altering attack, Munoz still has days when she wishes she could have her hand back. However, she remains optimistic and continues to pursue her master’s degree in social justice at Arizona State University.
In the aftermath of the attack, Munoz’s friend, CJ Norrick, set up a GoFundMe page to help with her medical expenses. The fundraiser has since collected nearly $10,000. Norrick described Munoz as a “sweet soul with a big smile and an even bigger heart,” adding that if she ever won the lottery, every animal shelter would be empty because of her love for animals.