Golden Retriever Saves Boy in Cougar Attack

On Saturday, a dog named Angel saved the life of her 11-year-old owner, defending him in a cougar attack.

By Kathryn Hawkins. Posted on January 04 2010

Image: iStockphoto

Austin Forman’s Golden Retriever, Angel, lived up to her name on Saturday.

While the eleven-year-old boy was out hauling firewood back to his family’s home in Boston Bar, British Columbia, he and his pet dog came face-to-face with a wild cougar. The giant cat began lunging towards Austin when the Golden Retriever intercepted, throwing herself in front of the cougar’s claws.

“I was about five feet away from the basement door and she had run toward me and that’s when the cougar had attacked her and brought her under the stairs,” Austin told The Vancouver Province. “It was coming after me and Angel intercepted. The cougar grabbed Angel.”

Terrified for himself and his dog, Austin ran inside screaming for help. Austin’s mother, Sherri Forman, immediately called 911, and within just a few minutes, an officer had arrived to break up the vicious fight between the dog and the cougar.

“I could see the cougar had the dog in its mouth, around the dog’s neck. It was chewing on its neck,” said Constable Chad Gravelle. Gravelle had a clear shot at the cougar, and he took it. The two animals collapsed in a ball on the ground, lifeless.

Everyone on the scene suspected that Angel was already dead. She’d been trapped in the cougar’s jaws, and hadn’t moved in several minutes. But as a neighbor pulled the two animals apart, the dog released a loud breath.

Angel didn’t come away from her encounter unscathed—she has several puncture wounds, a rip in her eyelid, and damage to her sinus cavities. Nonetheless, she’s expected to make a full recovery.

“It could have turned out a lot different if it wasn’t for Angel,” said Sherri. “She’s our guardian angel.”

Filed under: Animals and Pets, General Interest, Heroes,

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