A German shepherd puppy from North Carolina is lucky to be alive after she was stabbed in the back during a domestic dispute.

Clementine was just two months old at the time of the brutal attack. On June 2, a 22-year-old woman allegedly stabbed the puppy at a property in the 1600 block of West Fifth Avenue in Gastonia, WBTV in Charlotte reported.

According to the news station, the suspect chased her boyfriend with a knife, threw the knife at him, and then stabbed his dog, Clementine. She is also accused of trying to assault her boyfriend's mother and allegedly breaking two windows at her home.

She was charged with felony cruelty to animals and misdemeanor assault with a deadly weapon and appeared in court earlier this month.

Newsweek reached out to the Gastonia Police Department for comment.

Clementine has since come into the care of Chrissy Elder, who owns and operates Forgotten Now Family Rescue in Charlotte.

"It's a miracle that Clementine survived, but she's doing really well," Elder told Newsweek. "Today she is sitting up and eating and drinking alone. She's starting to walk as well!"

Clementine has already had to undergo one lifesaving operation, with the surgery setting the shelter back some $6,000. She's not out of the woods yet, though, with Elder admitting the young pup may still require additional vascular surgery, which could cost a further $10,000.

Elder is not focusing on those details right now but instead simply expressing thanks and relief that Clementine is alive and doing as well as can be expected under the circumstances.

For all the pain she has endured, Clementine has lost none of her zest for life or love for humans. When Elder first picked her up from the hospital, the pup greeted her with "kisses and tons of tail wags."

Pets are often caught in the crossfire of a distressing domestic violence situation. A study published in the journal Society & Animals in 1997 found that 71 percent of domestic violence victims reported that their abuser also targeted pets.

Elder has seen pets fall victim like this before.

"We have seen a horrific increase of animals involved in domestic violence situations," she said. "Our rescue is thankful we can step up and serve these victims during a horrific time."

Right now, Elder is determined to make sure Clementine no longer suffers. On their way home together from the hospital, Elder said she promised Clementine: "It's all over now. You will never ever be in the hands of someone else who will hurt you."

Elder has now set her heart on fostering Clementine to full health and then finding her the right forever home.

"She will be available for adoption when medically cleared in a few months," she said.