[kanawa]

We had already walked the portage trail twice and a pair of solo canoeists had passed through also, so there was no reason for a normal bear not to be warned of the presence of humans. On my third trip back for more gear Sam who was walking beside me started to growl. I turned around and there about 20 feet back was a big black stealthily closing in. I had heard nothing. Without Sam's warning, the first I may have known of the bear's presence may have been his jaws around my neck. I did what I was supposed to do, made myself appear bigger, made lots of noise and while facing the bear walked backwards. I had immediately unsheathed my knife and had it in hand. None of my actions were scaring away this bear and it kept approaching. I began to have an inkling that I had a problem here. The bear then went off the portage trail, through the bush, past me and came back on to the portage blocking off my retreat. Now I knew I had a serious problem. Sam who had been behind me was now in front in relation to the bear. I began moving backwards again in the opposite direction,waving my arms and making loud noises. Sam rather than facing the bear in aggressive posture was turned sideways blocking the bears movement forward. The bear from his slightly higher position on the trail came down and clamped his jaw on to Sam's back. I've been told the purpose of this is to snap the spine rendering the meal incapable of escape.

I've in the past discussed with my friend and breeder and even here on FR, what to do in the highly unlikely case of facing a predatory bear and it being momentarily distracted by my dog. The consensus was I should take advantage of the opportunity to escape, to validate my dog's sacrifice by saving my own life. But, boy, reality can sure be different than hypotheticals. While the motivation for my action was my love for Sam, my choice may have given me greater odds of survival than running away would have in this instance. I would have been running towards the end of the portage where my gear was but my canoe was still at the beginning of the portage. I had no way to truly escape the area and would have been left with the difficult possibility of facing this bear, when he was done with the appetizer, in a frontal attack armed only with the knife. What would I have done, offered him my one arm to chew on while I stabbed with the other? Of course none of this was going through my mind at the time, I only saw my beloved canine friend being attacked and an opportunity to stop it.

All thanks to God for seeing me and Sam through this safely. And while nothing can mitigate the loss of Dr.Perry, her husband has my deep gratitude for sharing his story with the media and motivating me to buy the knife.

And Sam....I've said many times in the past that he is a gift from God to me. He had already help 'save my life' by the opening up of my heart that resulted from his coming into my life, But now he has been instrumental too in saving my physical life. Folks that have heard the account are planning to apply for him to be inducted into the Purina Hall of Fame, I certainly believe he has shown himself worthy of that honor.

[kanawa]

Woof

[pax_et_bonum]

Daaaaaaaaang.

Real Man Ping!

[TommyDale]

I fully expect PETA and the ACLU file a lawsuit on behalf of the bear for wrongful death.

[kanawa]

In light of our conversation just prior to the commencement of my trip, you might find this interesting ;~)

[tet68]

Awesome, kanawa, you and sam have fulfilled the long
pact between man and dog.

Tet, digger and shorty, send our regards!

[ValerieUSA]

Exciting adventure story! All the necessary elements.

[DouglasKC]

Wow...Tarzan ain't got nothin' on you!
Good job to save your dog...

[Zeroisanumber]

Not a big guy either. I was expecting a mountain of a man. Great story to tell around the campfire.

[mtbopfuyn]

So, this is you and Sam? Give that dog a steak, man! Actually, he needs a steak every single day. Glad you're here to tell the tale.

[kanawa]

[GMMAC]

Thank God one of our favorite FReepers & his brave dog got out of this alive!

Unfortunately, in social fascist Liberal Ontario, Tom could now be charged & his dog Sam ordered destroyed because, against the advice of all major animal welfare agencies, the McGuinty government callously enacted a cynical & opportunistic so-called 'breed ban' law.

PING!

[Calpernia]

Good boy Sam!@!!!

And now, I will get a swiss army knife.

[Calpernia]

Bear ping!

[Calpernia]

I'm reading again....

YOU are Tilley?

[bannie]

I'm impressed! I understand that bears have tough skin/thick fur!

[Calpernia]

OMG! It is you!

BIG HUG!!!!

Thank God you are ok!

[Calpernia]

We have a hunting legend here right at FR!

[Calpernia]

canada ping

And ping it hard. We have a legend here!

[NonValueAdded]

Congratulations on your escape and saving Sam's life. Have you considered a firearm or has Canada relegated you to a knife fight? Just curious.

[Chickensoup]

I knew Bill Gates had another life somewhere. Now he is wrestling bears.