Family dog survives black bear attack thanks to wife's use of toy sword

When Karen Curran saw a mother bear attack her 9-year-old golden retriever outside her Northampton, Massachusetts, home on Wednesday night her own protective instincts kicked into play.



The Lawn Avenue resident, armed with little more than bluff, bluster and a toy wooden sword, chased off the bear which was apparently defending its cubs from the dog, named Lilly.



Lilly, held overnight at the Veterinary Emergency and Specialty Hospital in Deerfield, suffered some puncture wounds to her head and neck but is otherwise going to be OK, Curran said.