A tiny Yorkie-bichon pooch was valiantly trying to defend his owners against a massive mama bear when the unthinkable happened. The bear snatched him up and there he was, dangling from her massive jaws. The dog owner’s fight instincts took over and he gave the bear one good kick, upon which the bear dropped the dog and fled.
When David and Brandy Fulghum, from Florida, were woken up by banging noises on their porch, they were surprised to see a couple of bears dawdling about. The bears turned out to be a mama and her two cubs. Before long, she was trying to get into the house via the back door.
Gator, their adorable Yorkie-bichon, being the loyal pooch he is, was naturally on guard.
Gepostet von Brandy Jones Fulghum am Mittwoch, 31. Oktober 2018
As David was about to leave the house for work, he opened the back door, and “Gator just jumped between his feet and ran out,” his wife Brandy said, per Fox10.
“He was trying to save us,” said Gator’s owner, Brandy Fulghum. “He’s a little dog who thought he was huge, but he’s little.”
Gepostet von Brandy Jones Fulghum am Mittwoch, 31. Oktober 2018
Gator has been with the family for quite some years, so it is only natural for him to want to defend his territory.
“He’s like his therapy dog,” said Brandy. “When his dad passed away, he was there. Our son died in June of last year, so he’s been his best friend.”
Gator is got little spunk back not a lot but everyday doing better thank you for everyone that has asked!!
Gepostet von Brandy Jones Fulghum am Freitag, 9. November 2018
David stepped outside, and he saw Gator helplessly in the jaws of the mama bear, bleeding from a gaping wound in his stomach.
“He had a big hole in his side and we didn’t know at the time it was his intestines outside of his, his stomach sorry,” Brandy said emotionally.
David immediately sprang into action.
“He said he was face-to-face with it and he just drop-kicked it,” said Brandy.
“I just went airborne and dropkicked [the bear],” David told WFTV. “[The bear] spun around, stood up on two legs, and hopped back down on four legs.”
The bear dropped Gator like a hot potato. David picked him up and ran for the house.
They rushed Gator to the animal clinic in Casselberry. Gator underwent emergency treatment, which cost around $800 just to stabilize him and put his intestines back inside of his stomach.
He has been transferred to the animal hospital and he will undergo a surgery that is estimated at $7,000 to $10,000, depending on how he copes.
#Update: Here is a picture of Gator after surgery. Gator was attacked by a bear in Oviedo yesterday. Owner says he is doing better today. #WFTV pic.twitter.com/CedCwXcEcZ
— Jeff Levkulich (@jlevkulichWFTV) October 30, 2018
But believe it or not, Gator survived. For one so tiny as he is, no one can say this fur baby isn’t brave.
“He’s like our baby. He’s like a child to us,” said Brandy.
The family set up a GoFundMe account to help pay the vet bills upfront. Family and friends gladly pitched in, and according to recent updates, it looks like Gator, the brave-hearted one, is on the road to recovery.
Latest updates posted to their crowdfunding page state that Gator is finally able to go up and down the stairs on his own. They have also managed to raise $3,961 till date for his treatment.
Reportedly, the family said they hadn’t come across a bear in the last few years they have lived in Black Hammock.
As a piece of cautionary advice, David said, “I just want people to know: Be careful.”
He added: “I have granchildren. [sic] If these bears are out 18 hours a day, you don’t know they could be in a tree, in the woods… You just don’t know. Just be aware of your surroundings.”
Gepostet von Charlotte Fulghum am Dienstag, 30. Oktober 2018
The family is very grateful for the donations from kind contributors.
What a miracle! Such a small dog and such a big fierce mama bear, yet he survived the jaws of death—astonishing!
Watch the report below:
