A Canadian man is thanking his dog for saving him from an attack by a protective mother bear.
Reid Roberts of British Columbia was running in Forest for the World Provincial Park with his dog, Pacer, Tuesday when they accidentally startled a mother bear and her two cubs, CBC reports.
“She didn’t hear us coming and we didn’t know she was there,” Roberts said. “She had no choice but to immediately go into attack mode.”
Roberts said the bear knocked him to the ground and was swatting him. He desperately tried to protect himself while pinned on the ground.
Roberts said Pacer was fighting the bear from behind, barking and biting at the bear’s legs. Pacer managed to distract the bear long enough for him to crawl away and hide behind some bushes.
Then, the bear came rushing toward him a second time. By now, Roberts was bleeding badly.
Pacer dove at the bear again, this time leading her down a path, away from Roberts.
Pacer managed to get away unscathed, but Roberts had to get 16 stitches.
“Pacer is my hero,” Roberts said. “He’s a great running partner.”
The female bear was euthanized by animal officials, and her cubs were transported to an animal sanctuary.
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