Loyal German Shepherd saves owner from bear attack

By SecretWuff 4 Min Read

On Sunday, June 30th, a loyal German shepherd saved the life of his owner who was suddenly attacked by a bear while jogging on the Trans Canada Trail in Canada’s Yukon Territory.

in statement A report released by the Yukon Conservation Service said the incident happened at 10:30 p.m. on June 30.

Vanessa Chaput was jogging along a paved path with her German shepherd, Luna, when she came across a pack of grizzly bears along the way.

Chaput says today, “I first spotted a male bear attacking me and then two smaller bears about 10 feet away from me.”

“There was also a fourth, smaller bear right behind me that I didn’t notice.” She reveals.

Chaput backed away from the pack of grizzly bears, but not Luna, a leashed German shepherd who escaped from his owner and chased off two smaller bears.

But problems arose as Chaput was left holding the third bear.

A large male bear charged in Chaput’s direction and attacked her. “I tried to hide behind a tree but the bear knocked me down…it had my head in its mouth and I fell to the ground.” She says.

Chaput said she didn’t scream or feel any pain, but instead felt like a rag doll and helpless.

“I remember being tossed around.” She recalls.

Chaput recalled the bear’s claws wrapping around his body, piercing his skin and scratching his thigh, and the bear also biting his arm.

During the attack, the owner and his mother thought: “I’m not ready to leave my daughter and husband behind.”

At one point during the attack, Chaput Inside Edition Her hair clip broke and “exploded” in the bear’s mouth.

“I think the clip broke and the spring part exploded in my mouth.” She explains:

Just in time, Luna returned to the scene and continued barking to scare the bear away.

“Her barking saved my life” Chaput says.

Authorities and Chaput believe Luna’s constant barking scared the bear away, saving Chaput’s life that day.

Chaput also revealed that when Luna returned, she was unharmed in her encounter with the two small bears.

The dog’s owner told TODAY: “I’m so amazed at how lucky I was, and I’m so grateful that God was watching over me that day.”

After the bear attack, Chaput spent 10 days in hospital and received more than 30 stitches in his head, back, arm and ear, as well as a broken arm that remains in a cast.

Additionally, Yukon Conservation Services said it had euthanized a bear that was in the exact spot where the attack took place.

“Three more bears matching the description have been found in the area, two of which have been euthanized, and efforts are ongoing to rescue the fourth bear. Officers are using a variety of methods, including helicopters and drones, to monitor the area and continue to search for the remaining bears.” They explained.

Yukon’s Department of Conservation also said it was aware of public concerns about euthanizing bears in defensive attacks.

They write: “In situations like these, critical decisions are made utilizing all available information, in conjunction with predator attack response protocols, in the interest of public safety and the safety of our personnel.”

“Officers take this responsibility and the consequences of their decisions seriously.”

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