_The Evening Post_, 5 April 1924:
LOCAL AND GENERAL
…
An interesting account of the amazing recovery of a small bird after a serious injury is given by a chief petty officer on H.M.S. #Philomel, says the “Auckland Herald.” The bird, a white dove, was savagely attacked by a dog; and had its chest so torn open that its heart was actually exposed, the beating being plainly visible. After lying unattended for half an hour the bird was taken to the sick bay, where its wounds were sewn up with horse hair, and a bandage wound round its body. It was then put to bed in its box, while its mate waited nearby for company. On being visited next morning the bird was found to have freed itself from its bandages and to be flying around the room. When the door was opened it flew outside. The dove appears to be now as strong as ever, though the stitches can be plainly seen in its body.
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP19240405.2.18
Wikipedia article about the Philomel https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Philomel_(1890)