A brave French bulldog named Cassie died after protecting her owners from an attacking bear at their rural Northern California home.

Jeff and Mallory Wilson were both hospitalized after a bear attacked them in their Trinity County backyard late on Saturday, September 19.

The unexpected attack began when Cassie let out a single bark. Jeff stepped outside to check on the dog and as soon as he opened the door, a bear appeared from behind the patio furniture and knocked him down.

Both Jeff and Mallory were badly hurt

Mallory was woken by the noise and ran outside without a clue of what was happening. The bear quickly turned on her and she suffered serious injuries to her face and head, along with a broken hand. Jeff broke two ribs and got several bites and claw wounds.

The bear grabbed Cassie in its mouth and tried to flee with her. Mallory threw a chair at it, forcing the bear to let go of the dog before Jeff drove the bear off by shoving a patio heater at it.

“I think the bear was startled by us just as much as we were startled by it,” Jeff later told Redheaded Blackbelt.

Mallory also pointed out how unexpected Cassie’s heroic role in the attack was.

“She was never meant to be a hero, she was not our guard dog,” she said.

“She was just our sweet indoor lap baby.”

The Wilsons moved to the area so they could be closer to nature and don’t hold any kind of grudge towards the bear.

“This was an unprovoked and extraordinarily unusual encounter that none of us could have anticipated,” they told KRON4.

“We can grieve Cassie and be devastated by what happened while still respecting the wild animals that belong in these places.”

A brief window of hope

Cassie underwent emergency surgery for multiple bite wounds and deep lacerations along her spine.

She initially seemed to be recovering, walking and drinking water on her own within two days, giving the family real hope. Unfortunately she died the following morning.

A GoFundMe has since been set up by Rachel Moscon, a friend of the couple’s for 20 years, to help with veterinary bills, medical costs, and lost income.

According to the page, Jeff and Mallory run a small hospitality business and have had to cancel guest bookings while recovering, with no paid sick leave to fall back on as self-employed workers.