A dog in Connecticut is being given the hero treatment after home security footage recorded the canine chasing a bear away from his family’s 4-year-old son.
The video displays the moment that the dog in Sherman, CT ran the bear off. It has been shared online and highlighted by “Good Morning America.”
According to News8 WTNH, Gavin Grant was playing in the family’s backyard when a black bear crossed his path. He told his father Gregory after the fact that he got scared and ran away from the bear.
It was then that the family’s 8-year-old golden retriever, Jake, rushed in to chase the bear away from the boy.
Gavin and his dog were unharmed and his father noted that he didn’t know if the bear intended any harm.
He also said that Jake was rewarded for his bravery, stating, “He got quite a few treats, he got ice cream, he got a bath that night.”
“He got the whole nine yards… He helped us out that day for sure,” he added.
National Geographic Magazine has reported that the chances of being injured in a bear attack are 1 in 2.1 million and that black bears are less dangerous than other species of bear.
Black bear encounters are more common in some areas than others. A black bear was recently caught breaking into a golf bag and stealing clubs in Canada, previously reported on IJR, but no one was injured and the bear dragged the bag into the woods as it ran off.
The Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection has reported that “bear sightings, even in heavily populated residential areas, are on the rise.”
They have offered tips to “avoid conflicts” with these bears. These include “never” feeding bears, properly storing garbage, supervising pets, and avoiding approaching the animals.
In addition, they have advised, “Black bears rarely attack humans. If you are attacked, do not play dead. Fight back aggressively with anything available.”
