A family dog is being hailed a hero after protecting a family’s young child from a potential bear attack.

WTNH and Storyful obtained video of the recent incident in Torrington, Connecticut, which occurred outside the boy’s home.

In the footage, the bear runs up the home’s driveway towards the boy, with the husky close behind. Before the wild animal reaches the child, the dog jumps onto the charging bear’s back and bites it, directing the bear away from the boy.

While the husky works to protect the child, the boy runs off-frame in search of safety. In the background, an adult voice shouts at the bear, helping to scare the animal off. The video ends with the dog continuing to chase the bear away from the property.

The dog’s owner, Jeff Tazzara, told WTNH that the canine had previously protected his children from strangers and that it was no surprise she did it again.

“[The dog] always puts herself in between strangers and the kids, but you always wonder in the back of your head, ‘what’s gonna happen if she needs to protect us?’ And now we know…,” the dad said.

Tazzara told WTNH that he planned to reward his loyal dog for saving his son with one of the pet’s favorites — a T-bone steak.

Jason Hawley, a wildlife biologist with the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), told WTNH that what happened in the video was the best-case scenario.

“In that situation, the dog worked out perfectly,” he said. “You know, it kind of made it an uncomfortable situation for the bear.”

“Unfortunately it doesn’t always work out that well, so we usually advise people to try to keep their dogs somewhat contained or keep an eye on them,” he added.

According to the National Park Service, if a person comes into contact with a bear, they should stay calm and pick up any children immediately without making “any loud noises or screams.” They should then “slowly wave” their arms above their heads and tell the bear to back off or leave the area.

The NPS also recommends carrying bear spray if exploring the more wooded, remote areas.

Source: People