The porcupine's quills punctured all three dogs, but Mahalo took the most, with some barbs affecting her heart and lungs.

She has  had extensive surgeries to save her life, but is reportedly recovering.

Nestah's injuries also required surgery, but he's recovering well, with no permanent damage despite taking quills in the spine and cheeks.

Soljah had only a few barbs to the chin, and they were removed without surgery.

A friend set up a GoFundMe account to help with the veterinarian bills, and more than $15,000 was raised. The fundraising page remained open after donations were closed, to keep people up to date on the dogs' recovery.

Keep Reading

Ernie Suggs, a reporter at the AJC since 1997, reviews a selection of articles he has contributed to during his time with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, as of Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025. (Miguel Martinez/AJC)

Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez

Featured

Prosecutor Skandalakis has previously suggested that pursuing criminal charges against President Donald Trump may not be feasible until after he leaves office in 2029. (Craig Hudson/Politico/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Credit: Bloomberg via Getty Images