There are plenty of ways to be cautious around wildlife, but sometimes, you don’t get a chance to think or prepare. A woman and her dog love hiking together, but when a mountain lion attacked them, they had to act fast. First, the massive feline went for the woman, but her dog refused to let her loved one die.
Thanks to the pup’s bravery, the woman survived the tragic incident. However, the heroic canine was in critical condition afterward due to a skull fracture and many other wounds. The dog is now being hailed a hero, and people around the world are raising money to help her heal.
Belgian Malinois Saves the Day
Erin Wilson and her Belgian Malinois named Eva were walking along the Trinity River in northern California when their lives were put in danger. Eva was only a few yards ahead off-lease when a mountain lion lunged at Wilson. The wild cat scratched her shoulder through her jacket, so Wilson called for Eva. Wilson’s truck was still in sight, but the mountain lion wouldn’t leave.
The 55-pound dog came running full speed toward the mountain lion and slammed into it. The mountain lion directed its attention toward Eva, but the dog didn’t stand a chance. Eventually, the mountain lion sank its teeth into Eva’s head and wouldn’t let go.
“They fought for a couple seconds, and then I heard her start crying,” Wilson said. “That’s when the cat latched on to her skull.”
RELATED: A Mountain Lion Was Going To Attack Her Dog Until Mom Figured Out How To Scare It Away
Wilson tried everything she could to get the mountain lion to let go. She used rocks, sticks, and even her fists to hit the cat, but it was able to protect itself with its back paws. So, Wilson ran back to her truck to grab a tire iron to attack the mountain lion with. She also flagged down a driver named Sharon Houston to help out.
After Wilson beat the mountain lion some more, it finally let go of Eva. Houston then sprayed the feline with pepper spray, which caused it to run off.
Heroes Need Saving Too
At first, Eva seemed fine, but when Wilson got a closer look at her, she noticed puncture wounds on her face and blood coming out of her mouth. So, she rushed her to the emergency vet, which was an hour-and-a-half away. It was the most stressful drive of Wilson’s life. Eva had convulsions halfway through the drive, making Wilson worry that the dog wouldn’t make it.
But luckily, the pair made it to the vet, where the staff members found numerous injuries. Eva had two skull fractures, a punctured skull cavity, severe swelling near her eye, and lots of scratches. She has a long road to recovery, but vets seem optimistic that she’ll survive.
“My dog is my hero and I owe her my life,” said Wilson. “She really likes stuffed animals so we’re buying her a bunch of stuffies. We’re going to get her a nice steak dinner. She’s going to get all sorts of treats for a while.”
Even though things are looking up for this hero dog, her vet bills are adding up quickly. So, Wilson started a GoFundMe to raise money for Eva. So far, people have donated twice as much as the donation goal, which was $7,500.
Featured Image: Instagram
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via Whisker Therapy