Dog saves owner from mountain lion attack in California 

A dog saved a woman’s life after a mountain lion attacked them on Monday near Big Bar, California. The dog is now fighting for its life. 

Erin Wilson and her Belgian Malinios were walking on a trail near a picnic area when a mountain lion swiped her left shoulder. After hearing her scream, the dog, who had wandered off a bit ahead, came to defend her against the wild animal, according to wildlife officers. 

"The mountain lion bit the dog's head and would not let go," California Department of Fish and Wildlife law enforcement division Capt. Patrick Foy said in a statement. "The woman attempted to throw rocks, tug and pull them apart. [She] even attempted to gouge the eyes out of the lion, to no avail."

She ran to a road nearby and tried to flag down cars to help. A passerby stopped to help and retrieved a can of pepper spray.

They even sprayed pepper spray at the lion’s face, but to no avail. The mountain lion was started dragging the dog off to somewhere else. 

The two individuals were finally able to save the dog by hitting the mountain lion repeatedly with a PVC pipe they found. 

“I don’t think I will ever be able to live up to how amazing and loyal she is to me,” Erin Wilson told the Sacramento Bee.

Officials are investigating the case. "Initial evidence from the investigation is strong enough to allow wildlife officers to treat the investigation as a legitimate attack," Foy said.

The woman took herself to the hospital to treat her wounds, none of which were life-threatening. 

“The woman drove her dog straight to a veterinarian for emergency treatment. The dog’s condition is guarded, and it is unknown if she will survive,” said the statement.