Additional Coverage:
A Northern California family is grieving the loss of their cherished French bulldog, Cassie, who courageously defended them during a bear attack.
The 7-year-old dog confronted a black bear that attacked Jeff Wilson after he followed Cassie outside. Mallory Wilson, who was asleep during the incident, recounted the harrowing experience to local news outlet KRON-TV.
“Cassie immediately came to his defense, placing herself between Jeff and the bear,” Mallory explained. She woke up to screams and rushed outside to find the bear holding Cassie in its mouth.
According to Mallory, Jeff was the first to be attacked and suffered serious injuries, including two broken ribs and multiple bite and claw wounds. She tried to fend off the bear with a piece of patio furniture but was also attacked, sustaining neck injuries and requiring stitches. Jeff received 13 staples following the incident.
Despite Cassie’s brave efforts to protect her owners, she was found later in the garden and rushed to an emergency veterinary hospital, where she sadly passed away on September 21.
“Cassie was never meant to be a guard dog,” Mallory said. “She was our beloved indoor lapdog, and we are heartbroken that she had to fight for her life. We believe her actions helped save us.”
A GoFundMe has been established to help the family cover unexpected medical expenses as they recover from this traumatic event.