A 7-month-old Labrador retriever named Ellie was recovering Tuesday after being stung 155 times by bees while in her backyard in La Habra Heights, according to dog owner Michael Schiotis.
It happened Friday when Schiotis was not home.
Ellie was in a custom dog run Schiotis constructed in the backyard to protect her from coyotes and other predators.
But when the bees came, she was trapped inside the dog run and unable to escape, Schiotis said.
A neighbor came to the rescue, creating a make-shift beekeeper suit.
“He had a motorcycle helmet, he had a mosquito net, welder’s gloves … whatever he could,” said Schiotis.
The neighbor ran into the dog run and pulled Ellie out.
She was rushed to an emergency animal hospital, barely breathing, Schiotis said.
Despite pulling 155 stingers from the puppy, the hospital staff was able to save her.
“It’s just incredible, because they said that … 40 can kill a man,” Schiotis said. “She’s about 45 pounds, so we’re pretty lucky to still have her.”
Schiotis believes the swarm came from a neighbor who allowed a local beekeeper to store hives on her property.
The incident was under investigation.
An official from the County of Los Angeles Department of Agriculture visited the neighborhood on Tuesday, according to Schiotis.
Ellie was expected to make a full recovery.