Photo-BRENDA GRUNDT, WWW.WAWA-NEWS.COM
Posted on 07/22/2006 5:30:03 PM PDT by kanawa
A Waterloo man and his dog made a harrowing escape from the clutches of a vicious black bear Thursday while portaging near Wawa, Ont.
Tom Tilley, 55, killed the nearly 200-pound bear by jumping on its back and stabbing the aggressive animal with a six-inch hunting knife after his dog alerted him and distracted the bear.
"Love is a very powerful emotion and my thought right away was, 'You're not going to kill my dog,' " Tilley said yesterday.
"I really consider my dog a hero. Without that first warning I would have had the bear clamping down on my neck."
Tilley had planned on spending 12 days portaging through the area near Wawa with his American Staffordshire, Sam.
Four days into the trip, as he was making his third trip back to the water near Abbey Lake to retrieve his gear, he heard his dog growl and noticed the bear closing in on him. He said he did what he's been taught to do when a bear is close -- he starting waving his arms and slowing started backing away from the animal.
The bear moved off the trail, but a few seconds later reappeared, cutting off Tilley's escape route.
"That's when I knew I had a serious problem . . . I was lunch," he said.
Sam, who was behind Tilley before the bear moved up the trail, was now between the bear and his owner. Instead of taking an aggressive stance, the dog stood sideways blocking the bear's route.
"The bear took a few steps down the trail and clamped its mouth on the back of my dog," Tilley said. "By attracting the bear's attention like that and distracting the bear from me it gave me the quick opportunity I needed to run around to the back of the bear, get on its back and with my knife start stabbing it."
Tilley had recently purchased the knife that would save his life after reading the story of Jacqueline Perry, the young Cambridge doctor who was killed by a bear last September.
Perry's husband attempted to fend off the animal with a Swiss Army Knife -- the only weapon he had.
"When I read the report about her death, it really hit home to me that these things are possible," Tilley said.
"I owe her husband a real debt of gratitude because if I hadn't heard her story and got that knife, I wouldn't be telling this story."
After making sure the animal was dead, Tilley realized he had suffered a wound to his hand and Sam had two puncture marks on his back. He needed to get help, but was a two-day portage away from civilization.
Dragging his canoe across the short portage, Tilley paddled for about an hour before he came across a pair of Americans who happened to have a satellite phone.
They called for help and two hours later, a cargo plane arrived to take Tilley back to Wawa for medical attention.
He was treated and released from hospital.
News of his feat passed quickly through the small community, with a population of just over 3,000.
"He had a lot of cojones to do what he did," said Brenda Grundt, who operates the local news site Wawa-news.com and drove Tilley two hours back to where he'd left his van after the incident.
LUCKY TO HAVE KNIFE
"It's pretty amazing. Here's a guy that wouldn't be here if he hadn't happened to have a knife on him."
As for Tilley, it wasn't until he was back in his van alone with Sam that he took in the gravity of the situation.
"I just thanked God I was alive and that my dog was alive and cried a bit, but they were tears of thanks and relief," he said.
The Ministry of Natural Resources has sent the bear's body to Guelph and Ottawa for testing.
"It's very unusual for a bear to attack a person (and) pretty amazing this gentleman was able to kill it just with a knife," said Jolanta Kowalski, spokes-person for the ministry.
Because Wawa doesn't have a veterinarian's office and a specialist wasn't available to treat his hand, Tilley decided to push through and make the long journey home that night.
Back in Waterloo, news of his experience trickled back to amazed friends and family. Despite the danger, Tilley said the incident hasn't erased his love of the outdoors.
"My daughter says I'm not allowed to go up there anymore," he said with a laugh. " But I left my canoe there knowing I'll have to go back to get it."
Photo-BRENDA GRUNDT, WWW.WAWA-NEWS.COM
A 101 Dalmatia-
A thousand and one
Dalmatians, Labradors, Goldens, mixed breed, mutts and more good old mutts, Shepherds, mixed, Collies, more good 'ol mutt-dogs, Hounds, Dobermans, a mutt-mutt here, a mutt-mutt there, Terriers,
well,,,,
could you explain,
PUGS ?
Slobbering,
stinky
and
Pug Ugly!
Please,,,
PUGS ?
Their mommy still loves them?
Kanaw kilt a bar on this tree... July 2015
He was a good sport...wore his hat all day during work...
Got him a 14 lb box of biscuits and a new bowl.
Set the open box on the floor...
He looked up at me as if to ask, "Are you serious Dad??"... I let him help himself to a half dozen or so...
I thank the Creator for the wonderful gift he has given me in my dog
and hope to be celebrating his 15th birthday next year.
Happy Birthday Sam!
Love that last photo. lol
G'd boy. He knows things.
Part of me hoped that he would pass peacefully away as he lay outdoors but as Spring wore on he worsened with incontinence and difficulty walking. Arrangements were made for my daughter, her husband, mother, and 2 grandkids to make a trip in mid-July to visit Sam and say goodbye.
Now in the last week or so his appetite has gone and he can no longer walk. As much as I will miss him the kind thing to do is not to wait and to let him go now.
I called my daughter yesterday to let her know and she and her husband left to come here, they are now about two hours away. I'll look for a vet that can help by Tuesday. The son-in-law and I in the meantime will prepare a grave in the backyard and set it up so it can be a nice place where we can go to remember and honor him. He's earned the highest praise a man can give a dog, "You were a Good Dog!"
Life can be so bittersweet but I will always be grateful to the Creator for bringing Sam into my life and heart. We had such wonderful adventures together. Hard to believe, I'm 66 years old and with Sam approaching 16, he has been with me for almost a quarter of my life. I will miss him so much :(
I’ve very sad to hear this, I always enjoyed your pictures of your adventures together. A great dog.
You and Sam are both lucky to have found each other. I had to go through the same thing with my buddy of 18 years.
You have my condolences and best wishes.
Got to go my monitor is acting funny.
sad ping
Thanks for the kind words, it means a lot.
We’re on the way to the vet now :(
You are in my thoughts.
Prayers for you and Sam.
My condolences. I remember reading this thread back in 2006. A lot has happened since then, but it doesn’t seem that long ago.
Wow! I am so happy you and Sam had a good outcome.
Sad news at #1,008
You are The Man. And God bless your Sam, another hero.
AMEN! So very glad that you and Sam came out of this ordeal okay.
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