The Purina Animal Hall of Fame has honoured a seven-year-old dog in Nipigon, Ont., whose quick actions helped save her family from a black bear in 2025.
The incident took place Sept. 16 last year around 11 p.m.
Colette Shwetz opened the door to let Chloe out, as she routinely did before bedtime.
“When Chloe went down the deck stairs, she was met by a black bear hiding behind the railing,” Purina said in a news release announcing Chloe’s award.
Bear followed her
“The dog immediately rushed back upstairs, but the bear followed. As Colette let Chloe inside and tried to shut the door, the bear barged into the home.”
Shwetz said it was a terrifying encounter.
“The next thing I remember, the 300-pound bear is on top of me,” she said in the release.
“The dog immediately rushed back upstairs, but the bear followed. As Colette let Chloe inside and tried to shut the door, the bear barged into the home.”
— Purina Hall of Fame
“I remember screaming, ‘Help me, please, someone help me.”
The bear began attacking Colette, biting and scratching her.
“In that moment, she saw her life flash before her eyes,” Purina said.
Chloe managed to wake Colette’s sleeping husband, who wears a CPAP machine, a loud device that helps people with sleep apnea.
“When Joe intervened, the bear turned its attention to him,” the release said.
“That’s when Chloe jumped into action, and together the homeowners and their brave dog were able to push the bear into the basement.”
Kept the bear at bay
The brave pup helped the couple keep the bear downstairs until help arrived.
“According to police, every time the bear would try and come up, Chloe would go after him, going partially down the stairs and barking at him,” Colette said.
“The bear was scared of her.”
Joe called 911 while “Chloe did everything in her power to protect her owners from the bear,” the release said.
“When police arrived, they safely ended the incident. Chloe suffered serious bite and scratch wounds and, like her owners, required multiple stitches.”
“She is our hero,” Collette added.
Chloe’s actions earned her the Purina Animal Hall of Fame Award. Learn more about the program here.
