UMVA has learned that a harrowing encounter with a black bear on the Kenai Peninsula earlier this month turned into a fight for survival for an Alaska woman and her beloved dog.
Lori Price was on a mushroom-foraging trip with her German short-haired pointer, Chaos, and chocolate Labrador, Willis, near Skilak Lake on June 7, when the outing suddenly turned deadly. As she heard a roar and realized a bear had encountered her dogs, Price sprang into action.
"I heard the bear and I registered what was going on," Price recalled. "My sudden reaction was, I have to get to my dog now." With her heart racing, she spotted Chaos being attacked and swiftly drew a Glock 43 9mm pistol she was carrying.
In a split second, Price fired at the bear, and it dropped to the ground "like a sack of potatoes." But as she rushed to check on Chaos, who was suffering from multiple bite wounds and significant blood loss, the bear unexpectedly got back up.
Price said she fired again before the animal rose once more, and then she and her dogs made a frantic run for their lives while the bear headed off in the opposite direction. The sound of her own ragged breathing and pounding heart still echoes in her mind.
As she made her way back to her vehicle, Price called 911, but poor cellphone reception made it difficult to stay connected with dispatchers. Undeterred, she flagged down a passing driver and told them about the attack.
Emergency responders arrived and helped care for Chaos before Price drove him to a veterinary clinic for urgent treatment. The sight of her dog's injuries left her heartbroken: "He had so many bite marks on him. It was like the bear thought he was like a little sardine."
Price credits a veterinarian with helping save Chaos's life, saying, "Dr. Patrick called me from the veterinary clinic, and I owe him my dog’s life." Chaos was released from the clinic later that day and is expected to make a full recovery.
As Chaos continues to heal, Price reflects on the traumatic encounter, saying, "Obviously, we’re going through a lot of recovery, but he is really lucky to be alive." Her chocolate Labrador, Willis, fortunately escaped the encounter unscathed.
