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Man Sees A 350lb Bear Killing His Dog, Grabs It By The Throat And Punches It In The Face
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Man Sees A 350lb Bear Killing His Dog, Grabs It By The Throat And Punches It In The Face

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There’s nothing we wouldn’t do for our beloved furry friends, even if it means putting ourselves in danger. Kaleb Benham from Nevada County, California was at home the day just before Thanksgiving when he saw something outside of the window that made his heart drop into his stomach.

Kaleb’s 90-pound rescue dog Buddy was fighting for his life as a massive bear was “dragging him by his head.” At that point, “the only thing I could think of was ‘save my baby,'” Benham told CBS News, so he did what he had to do. He ran down there, “plowed into the bear, tackled it, and grabbed it by the throat and started hitting it in the face and the eye until it let go.”

Fortunately, Buddy survived the grueling attack by a whisker, and was rushed to the hospital. Meanwhile, the bear has already returned to their property a couple of times and Kaleb is worried the 350 lb giant may want his “catch” back.

Image credits: AnnaGilesTV

Initially, it all started like a usual day for Kaleb and his rescue dog Buddy, who have been together for seven years now, until things turned into a nightmare. Kaleb heard loud growls outside, ran outside, and saw his pit bull stuck in the jaws of a massive black bear. Worst, the dog was being dragged by his head from about 75 to 100 ft away.

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A CBS Sacramento reporter, Anna Giles, shared Kaleb’s story on Twitter and it touched so many people

Image credits: AnnaGilesTV

Utterly horrified, Kaleb didn’t take time to think of a plan. He just ran into the middle of the gruesome attack, grabbed the bear by the throat, and beat him in the face and the eye until he finally gave in.

At that point, Buddy was already severely injured with deep cuts and bite marks all around his face and head. Kaleb knew they were racing against time, and he rushed the boy straight to the hospital.

Image credits: AnnaGilesTV

Image credits: Kaleb Benham

Fortunately, Kaleb managed to arrange emergency help for Buddy at Mother Lode Veterinary Hospital, where he was given an extensive 3-hour-long surgery to treat the gruesome injuries. “I just stood there and watched through the window for 3 1/2 hours,” Kaleb recalled the nerve-racking surgery. Buddy required staples, stitches, and tubes inserted into his head to drain the fluid accumulated due to his injuries.

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Image credits: Kaleb Benham

Image credits: Kaleb Benham

Most importantly, Buddy is currently recovering and resting at home. Meanwhile, the bear seems to be still lurking for the family outside their house, and Kaleb thinks he may be wanting revenge. “It made an attack and had its food and its food got taken from it and it wants it back, I feel like,” the man said.

And this is what people had to comment

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Liucija Adomaite

Liucija Adomaite

Writer, Community member

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Liucija Adomaite is a creative mind with years of experience in copywriting. She has a dynamic set of experiences from advertising, academia, and journalism. This time, she has set out on a journey to investigate the ways in which we communicate ideas on a large scale. Her current mission is to find a magic formula for how to make ideas, news, and other such things spread like a virus.

Read less »
Liucija Adomaite

Liucija Adomaite

Writer, Community member

Liucija Adomaite is a creative mind with years of experience in copywriting. She has a dynamic set of experiences from advertising, academia, and journalism. This time, she has set out on a journey to investigate the ways in which we communicate ideas on a large scale. Her current mission is to find a magic formula for how to make ideas, news, and other such things spread like a virus.

Mantas Kačerauskas

Mantas Kačerauskas

Author, BoredPanda staff

Read more »

As a Visual Editor at Bored Panda, I indulge in the joy of curating delightful content, from adorable pet photos to hilarious memes, all while nurturing my wanderlust and continuously seeking new adventures and interests—sometimes thrilling, sometimes daunting, but always exciting!

Read less »

Mantas Kačerauskas

Mantas Kačerauskas

Author, BoredPanda staff

As a Visual Editor at Bored Panda, I indulge in the joy of curating delightful content, from adorable pet photos to hilarious memes, all while nurturing my wanderlust and continuously seeking new adventures and interests—sometimes thrilling, sometimes daunting, but always exciting!

Hey pandas, what do you think?
Add photo comments
POST
nesakysiukurtaueiti avatar
MagicalUnicorn
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

glad the doggo is safe, bear shouldn't mess with man's best friend!

anne-colomb1986 avatar
cassiushumanmother
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I once saved my american staffordshire from a cat savage attack on the street and i didn't had any articles on internet! lol. Seriously this man was lucky to fight the bear and win his dog back, and poor doggo is lucky to have such a brave human by his side. I hope he gets well soon.

rl_2 avatar
R L
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I would arm myself with a rifle to scare the bear off. When adrenalin kicks in you don't think, you just do. How fortunate for Buddy that this had a good ending, and having an owner like Kaleb.

anne-colomb1986 avatar
cassiushumanmother
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Adrenalin don't "kick" everyone on the same way... Some humans just run, because it is biological. Adrenalin tell "fight or run off" and sorry but most humans runs off, and it's not a thing that they can change. There are no cowards, nore heroes. I'm a behavior scientist. I once was in a fire at the hospital, most docs and nurses were completely lost, i was a patient and managed everybody. Because it is not a thing that you can fake, or master, or learn. I'm not a hero, that's just genes.

Load More Replies...
lsoo avatar
Raine Soo
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Kaleb is Buddy's hero. But, the bear incident was such a fright.

dcloud1943 avatar
Dorothy Cloud
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh, I just can't imagine the fear racing thru that man. So glad Buddy is doing OK.

owensalmon2028 avatar
Owen Salmon2028
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

if a bear attacked my cat i would hit it with a soild metal table what kind steal

psalm91bev avatar
Bev Vee
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

THAT’’S a real MAN protecting his baby!!! My hubby would have done the same.

mshaurimazuri avatar
Mshauri Mazuri
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Don't ever underestimate the love of humans for their dogs... or cats.

iapetosdertitan avatar
Iapetos
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

People can see the heroism in saving a dog from brutal slaughter. It's a start. Maybe one day we can extend that to all sentient beings.

maric avatar
mari C
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I would have done whatever it took to save my pit as well

lassila-alexander avatar
Aragorn II Elessar
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

All y’all that want 15 minutes of fame, don’t go punch a bear. Just don’t. Do not.

paigegrieshop avatar
Mustn’t eat the mango 🥭
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I love this man, and the doggo. He and his dog look like best friends and I’m glad the dog is healing now. Must have been nerve racking.

nesakysiukurtaueiti avatar
MagicalUnicorn
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

glad the doggo is safe, bear shouldn't mess with man's best friend!

anne-colomb1986 avatar
cassiushumanmother
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I once saved my american staffordshire from a cat savage attack on the street and i didn't had any articles on internet! lol. Seriously this man was lucky to fight the bear and win his dog back, and poor doggo is lucky to have such a brave human by his side. I hope he gets well soon.

rl_2 avatar
R L
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I would arm myself with a rifle to scare the bear off. When adrenalin kicks in you don't think, you just do. How fortunate for Buddy that this had a good ending, and having an owner like Kaleb.

anne-colomb1986 avatar
cassiushumanmother
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Adrenalin don't "kick" everyone on the same way... Some humans just run, because it is biological. Adrenalin tell "fight or run off" and sorry but most humans runs off, and it's not a thing that they can change. There are no cowards, nore heroes. I'm a behavior scientist. I once was in a fire at the hospital, most docs and nurses were completely lost, i was a patient and managed everybody. Because it is not a thing that you can fake, or master, or learn. I'm not a hero, that's just genes.

Load More Replies...
lsoo avatar
Raine Soo
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Kaleb is Buddy's hero. But, the bear incident was such a fright.

dcloud1943 avatar
Dorothy Cloud
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh, I just can't imagine the fear racing thru that man. So glad Buddy is doing OK.

owensalmon2028 avatar
Owen Salmon2028
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

if a bear attacked my cat i would hit it with a soild metal table what kind steal

psalm91bev avatar
Bev Vee
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

THAT’’S a real MAN protecting his baby!!! My hubby would have done the same.

mshaurimazuri avatar
Mshauri Mazuri
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Don't ever underestimate the love of humans for their dogs... or cats.

iapetosdertitan avatar
Iapetos
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

People can see the heroism in saving a dog from brutal slaughter. It's a start. Maybe one day we can extend that to all sentient beings.

maric avatar
mari C
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I would have done whatever it took to save my pit as well

lassila-alexander avatar
Aragorn II Elessar
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

All y’all that want 15 minutes of fame, don’t go punch a bear. Just don’t. Do not.

paigegrieshop avatar
Mustn’t eat the mango 🥭
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I love this man, and the doggo. He and his dog look like best friends and I’m glad the dog is healing now. Must have been nerve racking.

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