Belgian Malinois Eva, a 2-and-a-half-year-old dog, is Erin Wilson’s beloved companion in Trinity County, California. Their tranquil walk by the river took a dramatic turn when a mountain lion suddenly attacked Erin.
The Sacramento Bee reported that the mountain lion lunged at Erin, ripping through her jacket. With no one else around, Erin called out for Eva’s help, and the loyal dog rushed to her aid. Eva courageously confronted the mountain lion, striking it fiercely and drawing its attention away from Erin. However, the lion managed to grab onto Eva’s head, putting her through a harrowing ordeal. Erin fought back by hurling rocks and sticks, and eventually, a passing car helped by pepper-spraying the lion to drive it away.
Despite the lion eventually releasing Eva, the dog sustained severe head injuries. Erin, who had also been injured with several facial punctures and was bleeding, told the Sacramento Bee about the dire situation.
Though Eva was critically hurt, she survived after being taken to the hospital. Erin launched a GoFundMe campaign to cover Eva’s medical costs and shared that her hero is recovering well, with medical professionals remaining hopeful.
Eva’s brave actions undoubtedly saved her owner’s life. “I believe it’s accurate to say that the dog definitely saved her life,” commented Capt. Patrick Foy from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
On GoFundMe, Erin expressed her gratitude, stating, “My dog is my hero, and I owe her my life.” This story highlights the extraordinary bravery and loyalty of dogs, who are often willing to put themselves in harm’s way to protect their loved ones.
