As per KSLTV News, a Labrador retriever from Cedar Hills, Utah, displayed extraordinary valor on July 19th by defending its family against a mountain lion. Despite being hurt, the brave doggie fought back and managed to make it through.

Playing in their backyard with their 7-year-old yellow Lab named Ella, Crystal Michaelis and her children were alarmed when the dog suddenly spotted a mountain lion. Although Michaelis didn’t see the predator herself, she noticed Ella behaving in an unusual way, sensing danger. Ella was keeping an eye on both the kids and the area where the mountain lion was lurking. Thanks to Ella’s alertness, Michaelis took her children inside and returned to the patio door. She found that Ella had been severely wounded in a fight with the mountain lion. The dog’s head, face, legs, tongue, and neck were all badly injured, and blood stained both Ella and the door and terrace of the home. Despite the family’s absence during the incident, officials from the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources discovered tracks leading to the site. They suspect that the mountain lion might have been distracted by goats in a neighboring yard and accidentally wandered too close to the Michaelis’ residence.

Although it has been a while since anyone has seen a mountain lion, the Utah DWR is recommending that people stay alert and careful. Faith Jolley, a public relations officer at the DWR, explains that cougars usually trail deer because they rely on them as their primary source of food. Jolley also points out that there have been reports of deer sightings in the very same area.

Michaelis revealed that Ella was bitten approximately 30 times, starting from her shoulders and moving down. This suggests that Ella defended herself fiercely during the attack. Thankfully, Ella is projected to make a full recovery despite her injuries. For further information on this incident, watch the accompanying video.