Dogs are incredibly loyal and protective animals, especially when it comes to children. They have a keen ability to sense when little ones are in danger and will always shield them – even if it puts themselves at risk.
That was the case recently when a courageous dog died while protecting her family from a cougar attack.
Virginia Havens, from Idaho Springs, Colorado, and her family adored their dog Lady, a mix of Chihuahua and pitbull. According to Virginia, Lady was particularly adept at safeguarding her 4 and 11-year-old children.
“Whenever the kids were outside, Lady was right there with them,” Virginia told KCNC. When they played in the sandbox, she watched over them the whole time.
Her protective instinct would soon prove vital. On June 14, Virginia, her husband, and their 4 children were in the backyard when Lady began acting strange and aggressively barking.
Suddenly, they realized that the dog was warning them of a “gigantic” cougar at least five feet long sneaking into their yard. “I heard my husband yell ‘Go inside, now,’ and my kids were crying ‘Wolf!’” Virginia told Today Parents.
While the couple rushed to get their children safely indoors, Lady began defending her family by battling the large cat. “Lady took her position, ran in the opposite direction, turned around with great momentum to attack,” she told KCNC.
Indoors, Virginia called the police and threw a skateboard at the cougar, but it was too risky to go outside and assist Lady. Virginia watched in horror as her dog was attacked by the cougar.
“The cougar had her head in its jaws as she was trying to wriggle out,” she said. “I heard her yelp, which made me even more frantic because she was my baby.”
The police arrived and shot the cougar with a non-lethal bean bag gun, allowing Lady to escape and the cougar to retreat. Unfortunately, the big cat’s attack proved fatal for the dog.
“She had three holes in her skull and the underside of her muzzle was punctured, making it hard for her to breathe,” Virginia told Today Parents. “The veterinarians couldn’t guarantee she’d survive the night.”
The family was devastated to see their beloved dog suffering and made the difficult but humane decision to let her go peacefully.
“The kids were in tears, but seeing Lady’s condition helped them understand we had to let her go,” Virginia said. “We said our goodbyes, hugged Lady, and thanked her.”
It was a heartbreaking end to a tragedy that shook the family, although local wildlife officials assured them that the likelihood of the cougar returning was slim.
Even though Lady is no longer with them, the family will always remember her and be grateful for the dog who gave her life for the family. “Lady was our angel,” Virginia said. “She was a fighter.”
“She was truly our heroine,” she told KCNC.
Rest in peace, Lady. Thank you for protecting your family from a cougar despite it costing you your own life. You will always be remembered as a heroine ❤️
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