NH Woman Fights Off Bear That Attacked Dog
MANCHESTER, NH (CBS) - Ozzy, a Yellow Labrador, is recuperating from 12 puncture wounds and his back leg is still weak after coming face to face with a bear.
"I think it swiped at the dog when they passed," said Ozzy's owner Lisa Webb.
Lisa Webb says she and her daughter Kennedy were watching television at their cabin at Eidelweiss Village in Madison, New Hampshire when the commotion started.
"All of a sudden the dogs started going crazy but it was a different crazy then they normally go when they see something outside," said Webb.
They immediately saw a bear on the deck and in a split second the dogs, Ozzy and a Black Labrador named Boo, had managed to get outside.
"They got out and they were on the deck and my daughter was standing there and the bear had just walked by here with the open door," said Webb.
The bear seemed to retreat at first.
"My yellow lab started coming towards me and all of a sudden stopped and when I looked it was because the bear had come back and was right there, within inches of me," said Webb.
Lisa grabbed a baby gate that was on the deck. It was the only thing she could reach quickly.
"And I took the baby gate and I hit the bear in the head with the baby gate, dropped it, and ran into the house," said Webb.
Talk about a momma bear protecting her family. Webb is 4'10" and estimates the bear was 300 pounds.
After they were back in the cabin, they realized Ozzy was hurt. He has already had surgery, and his fur should grow back.
Some have told her she should never have gone outside.
"I didn't think twice about it, they're part of your family," said Webb. "I know it's just a dog but...I would do it all over again."
New Hampshire Fish and Game officials say even though bears this time of year do not have problems finding food in nature, they are always on the hunt.
Rob Calvert, a Fish and Game wildlife biologist, says making noise usually helps to scare off a bear. "Get larger than you are, raise your arms up, clap, yell at the bear, and back away slowly."
