Posted on 06/19/2015 10:30:01 AM PDT by Altariel
Ginger Wolfe said ever since her 9-year-old golden retriever Chelsea was a puppy, she has always been a big softie.
"There's not a mean bone in her body," Wolfe said. "She's just a sweetheart."
But as Wolfe found out over the weekend, nobody messes with Chelsea's family.
The 85-pound dog showed her mettle when she took on an angry mama moose that had charged at Wolfe's boyfriend and his family — including two young children — while they were camping between Nederland and Ward.
Wolfe, of Louisville, and her boyfriend, Jeremiah McLaughlin, of Boulder, were camping near Ruby Gulch. McLaughlin and his mother, his sister and her two kids — ages 4 and 2 — decided to go hiking Saturday along with Chelsea.
The group was 50 yards away from their campsite with McLaughlin in the lead when he suddenly found himself face to face with a cow moose and her two calves. A hunter, McLaughlin soon realized that with two calves in tow, the group was in trouble.
"I've seen plenty of moose, and I knew it was going to be a bad situation," he said. "She immediately lowered her head and came right after me."
McLaughlin was able to run behind a tree as the moose charged at him, but the moose then began moving toward the rest of his family. That's when Chelsea sprang into action and confronted the moose.
"The dog stayed between my mom, my little sister and the kids," McLaughlin said. "That dog didn't hesitate one bit. She didn't act like she was a day over 2 or 3. As soon as she saw that moose go after us, she went right after it and didn't back down."
While Chelsea confronted the moose, the rest of McLaughlin's family was able to get to shelter. But the dog was no match for the moose, which began kicking and headbutting Chelsea.
"The moose tried to crush her, and lowered her head down onto her, and those two went at it for 15 or 30 seconds," McLaughlin said. "I thought for sure the moose was going to kill that dog."
McLaughlin had been carrying a stick he was planning to use as a fire poker back at the campsite, so after seeing Chelsea in trouble, he hit the moose over the head with the branch, breaking the branch over it. At that point, the moose ran off with her two calves.
Chelsea was rushed to a veterinarian, with Wolfe fearing the worst. But after a brief stay at the vet, Chelsea was found to have no broken bones and no signs of internal bleeding or head trauma. She has a swollen liver, throat and legs but is expected to make a full recovery.
"At this point, I'm just happy she is alive," Wolfe said.
Jennifer Churchill, a spokeswoman for Colorado Parks and Wildlife, said moose are common in that area and can be aggressive, especially with calves.
"It's definitely something that we see happen from time to time," Churchill said. "While they appear very docile, if they start walking toward you they are probably attacking."
Wolfe said considering Chelsea is typically mellow and has had reconstructive knee surgery and has arthritis, she was shocked to hear that she had taken on a grown moose.
"I was surprised, but I also know that she is very loyal," Wolfe said. "I'm just so proud of her."
McLaughlin said he was amazed that a dog that he had only met twice and was meeting his family for the first time would risk its life to help them.
"She had the bond and just jumped right in there, which was pretty amazing," McLaughlin said. "We are really grateful Chelsea was there to take some attention away so my mom and sister could get the kids hidden behind the trees."
By the way, the journalist missed a golden opportunity:
"Dog Saves Wolfe from Moose", anyone?
Doggie ping
Did dog get squirrel too?
It’s highly unlikely a moose would be anywhere near their location. I know there are a few moose up in RMNP, but near Nederland? I wonder if they thought an Elk was a moose.
Good dog.
Mynd you, møøse bites Kan be pretti nasti.....
there are moose all over the state. i saw a pair 2 years ago wandering through my suburban neighborhood in northern El Paso county. apparently, the breeding pairs reintroduced in the 70’s have rapidly multiplied and they range all over the state now.
http://www.denverpost.com/ci_23325215/moose-move-multiplying-colorado-herds-decline-elsewhere
Not guilty! I’d protect her, too.
Moose in Texas—interesting.
Since the feds introduced the Canadian Wolf into Montana a couple decades ago the moose population here has nearly been eradicated.
Spoken like a true Lazite of the faithful hitits.. Congrats
Laz does set a tremendous example and high standard, and I try my best to follow.
sorry, my El Paso county is in Colorado. it’s the same county that contains Colorado Springs.
https://en.wikipedia.org/?title=El_Paso_County,_Colorado
and the cop still feels compelled to pitch the party line, no matter that it would have made things worse.
“need to keep your dog on a leash.....”
Such nonsense...
The dog would not have been in position to protect the family!!!!
Damn moron!
Yes dang it I looked at your posting and realized you were in Colorado but somehow forgot that by the time my fingers hit the keyboard.
Anyways I am glad there are moose thereabouts. Watch out for these lunatics who are trying to spread the wolves everywhere...the slaughter of elk, moose and other big game has been a carnage and a true tragedy up here.
Definitely not guilty but an 85-pound Golden Retriever? My Malamute is not that big.
Ok I’ll Start..
Moose/cheese/bite
Moose bites can be nasty, A moose bit my sister once...
People grossly overestimate the weight of their dogs. I chuckle every time I read about the 140 pound Labs and 95 pound Irish setters, etc. I suspect many dog owners are also fishermen, so it’s understandable.
“My dog was bitten by a moose”
That’s possible, but we dog-owners have to be within a few pounds, or we’ll kill them by giving them overdoses of medicines that are prescribed by weight...
I HAD a 120 lb yellow Lab named “Duke”. According to the vet’s scale, not my estimate. Second biggest Lab I ever saw - second only to “Calypso” - his father.
My son has a knee-high Pitbull mix, and he’s 75 lbs. It’s all about density, folks.
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