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Woman saves small dog ‘Fudge’ by punching bear in face
Baston Hearald ^ | Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Posted on 08/31/2011 1:58:38 PM PDT by null and void

JUNEAU, Alaska — Black bears in residential neighborhoods aren’t exactly unheard of in Juneau. While many people stay inside when bears are about, one local woman says she had a different instinct when she saw her dog was in trouble.

It started out as a typical evening for 22-year-old Brooke Collins. She let her dogs out as usual but this time, she said there was a black bear outside who took hold of her dachshund Fudge. She said she feared for her pet’s life and, in an instant, ran over and punched the bear right in the face to make it let go.

"It was all so fast. All I could think about was my dog was going to die," said Collins.

"It was a stupid thing but I couldn’t help it," she said. "I know you’re not supposed to do that but I didn’t want my dog to be killed."

Collins said she didn’t see the bear outside when she let the dogs out around 7:30 p.m. Sunday. She said Fudge just darted out and the barking could be heard almost instantly. She said that barking was "the most horrible sound in the world."

Collins said when she looked outside she saw a bear was crouching down with Fudge in its paws and was biting the back of the dog’s neck.

"That bear was carrying her like a salmon," she said. She said she almost instinctively went up and did the first thing she thought of. She punched the bear’s face and scooped away her dog when it let go.

It all happened too fast to really think about but she had flashes of hearing about how some animals will back off from a punch to the nose, she said.

She said her boyfriend Regan O’Toole came out upon hearing the screaming. O’Toole said the bear already looked startled from being punched at that point. He said the animal went down the driveway and into the bushes to the mountain as he ran toward it.

Her dog suffered some claw and bite marks but they weren’t deep so she said she decided not to take Fudge to the vet. She said the dog appeared to be more shocked than injured. She said she will get Fudge checked out if they appear infected.

Collins said she’s very close to her dogs, which is why she reacted this way. She said after this experience, however, she’ll keep a closer eye on them outside, as she fears an encounter with her other canine, a Pomeranian named Toki.

Collins lives in a neighborhood tucked up against Mount Juneau. She said black bear sightings are a regular occurrence there. She believes this same one has been around her house many times and is not afraid of people.

She said if this is that bear, it’s definitely used to people and keeps coming back and may even know what days the trash will be out. She said she’s even followed it to take pictures before.

O’Toole said he’s seen five bears in the area this year, including a sow with two cubs.

"We haven’t had any attacks over the years and they’re around all the time," he said.

Collins said one scary thing in hindsight was the bear’s size, which she said was very large even when it was crouching. O’Toole said it was definitely a large one.

Collins said the whole experience of a physical encounter shook her up, calling the whole thing an eye-opener. She said she’ll be taking a lot more caution from now on and definitely won’t be approaching neighborhood bears.

"It’s definitely changed my opinion because I never thought one would attack my dog," she said. "I wasn’t in my right mind at the moment but I would never think of doing it again."


TOPICS: Miscellaneous; US: Alaska
KEYWORDS: bear; dog; doggieping; duplicate; molassesmiasma; undeadthread
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To: null and void

No, bears are not regularly found in San Antonio, Tx.

I don’t think I punched anyone at all.


61 posted on 09/01/2011 6:28:33 AM PDT by Tax-chick ("True education is not an adjustment to the world, but a defense against the world.")
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To: Tax-chick

It’s got a lady punching out a bear!
That will be a tale she can tell her children.


62 posted on 09/01/2011 6:31:44 AM PDT by Darksheare (You will never defeat Bok Choy!)
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To: stephenjohnbanker; Tax-chick; NicknamedBob; Monkey Face

Sadly, they will find out once it is too late.


63 posted on 09/01/2011 6:32:54 AM PDT by Darksheare (You will never defeat Bok Choy!)
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To: Tax-chick
You actually did? Not me. But I did wear white bib overalls, with a appliqued yellow flower running up one leg and blossoming on the bosom (modestly covered by the bib).

Isn't "bosom" an interesting word? It's not exactly phonetic, but then, how would you spell it phonetically?

64 posted on 09/01/2011 6:42:11 AM PDT by Mrs. Don-o
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To: Mrs. Don-o

“Boozum”?

My hair wasn’t violet like this lady’s; it was more of plum-highlight thing. Didn’t look bad, just not brown.

I’ve never liked overalls: I’m too lumpy.


65 posted on 09/01/2011 6:46:23 AM PDT by Tax-chick ("True education is not an adjustment to the world, but a defense against the world.")
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To: Darksheare

Bad Darks. Do we need to get you a new staple gun?

Still here just lurking mostly


66 posted on 09/01/2011 8:04:55 AM PDT by scott0347 (Commander of the 0347th Lancer Brigade, Operator of the Immaculate Steamroller)
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To: Darksheare

Mocha had to help me find my way to this Month's UT... Of course, all she had to do was point out that you have me on the Ping List... ;-)

Thanks Darks...

67 posted on 09/01/2011 10:09:31 AM PDT by Dead Corpse (For those who fight for it, life has a flavor the sheltered will never know.)
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To: sionnsar; abigailsmybaby; A CA Guy; airborne; Allegra; Baraonda; callisto; Chode; clamper1797; ...

Over here, Ganag!


68 posted on 09/01/2011 10:12:00 AM PDT by Monkey Face ("...I believe in angels; something good in everything I see..." ABBA)
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To: Bulwyf
Are you formerly from where your handle suggest?

Nope- I was working there when I discovered the world of political internet boards. I just didn't have much imagination when it comes to choosing a screenname.

69 posted on 09/01/2011 10:14:21 AM PDT by Sarajevo (Is it true that cannibals don't eat clowns because they taste funny?)
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To: Mrs. Don-o

Do you know what kind of bees give milk?


70 posted on 09/01/2011 10:38:20 AM PDT by null and void (Day 951 of America's holiday from reality...)
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To: Tax-chick
Wow. This is better than the zoo animal poop thread, I think.

*******************************

Impossible!

71 posted on 09/01/2011 10:45:06 AM PDT by trisham (Zen is not easy. It takes effort to attain nothingness. And then what do you have? Bupkis.)
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To: null and void

Gotta be a boozum there somehwere...


72 posted on 09/01/2011 10:47:54 AM PDT by Mrs. Don-o (In theory. there's no difference between theory and practice. But in practice, there is. -Yogi Berra)
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To: Monkey Face
Uncle Artie thought the lady was putting out a buffet and then she goes and punches him. It was a set up I tell you!

Why do they call them wiener dogs if they weren't meant as snacks?

73 posted on 09/01/2011 10:48:42 AM PDT by Harmless Teddy Bear (Can we ask questions which God finds unanswerable? Easily. All nonsense questions are unanswerable.)
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To: Mrs. Don-o

Just ordinary snarks here.

What kind of bees give milk?

BooBees, of course!


74 posted on 09/01/2011 10:49:35 AM PDT by null and void (Day 951 of America's holiday from reality...)
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To: Monkey Face

Ganag?


75 posted on 09/01/2011 11:18:00 AM PDT by Cyber Liberty (I like both Perry and Palin, and will vote for whichever of them wins.)
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To: Dead Corpse

That dog has grown large!


76 posted on 09/01/2011 11:18:53 AM PDT by Tax-chick ("True education is not an adjustment to the world, but a defense against the world.")
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To: Monkey Face
The months seem to be flying by but November '12 doesn't seem to be getting any closer.

SmileyCentral.com

77 posted on 09/01/2011 11:24:31 AM PDT by abigailsmybaby ("To understan' the livin', you gotta commune wit' da dead." Minerva)
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To: abigailsmybaby; Darksheare
The months seem to be flying by but November '12 doesn't seem to be getting any closer.

Obama clock” a top iPhone app.. (Now #1)

High unemployment, high national debt, lousy housing numbers and high gas prices aside, it’s fun to watch the clock run out on Barack Obama’s first term as president. A new iPhone application — the “Obama Clock” — now ranks as the No. 1 reference app. Earlier today, it was No. 2 behind National Geographic’s World Atlas, but the app’s individual web page suggests it surpassed that old standby, at least for today.

The clock serves as “a countdown to either Barack Obama’s second inauguration or his final days as President of the United States.” More importantly, it downloads and updates important voter metrics: the president’s approval rating, the size of the public debt, the unemployment level, the cost of gasoline and the housing price index. ... (more at HotAir.com)

- click photo for iTunes App store...

Darksheare, please add me to the list!

78 posted on 09/01/2011 11:33:01 AM PDT by WVKayaker (The GOP needs to live the planks of its platform, not just offer lip service. -Sarah Palin 8/2008)
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To: scott0347

I know.
I wasn’t able to rebuild the original list.
But now I have both in a merged list.
So we’re good!


79 posted on 09/01/2011 11:48:10 AM PDT by Darksheare (You will never defeat Bok Choy!)
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To: WVKayaker

For better or for stranger, you are added!
*MWUH-hah-hah-hah-haaa!*

Glad to have you aboard!


80 posted on 09/01/2011 11:49:49 AM PDT by Darksheare (You will never defeat Bok Choy!)
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