WIARTON, ONTARIO
Queenie
GATINEAU, QUÉBEC
QUEENIE, a nine-year-old Labrador/Shepherd mix, scared off a bear while walking with her owner, Bonnie Pankiw, in a local provincial park.
As they were running in a secluded part of Gatineau Park near Meech Lake, an aggressive full-grown black bear crossed their paths, stopping them in their tracks. As the bear charged at Bonnie, Queenie growled and attacked the bear’s hind legs, scaring it off.
The bear came back more than once, trying to get around the dog to attack Bonnie.
Each time, Queenie sprang into action, defending Bonnie with a take-charge attitude, before eventually forcing the bear to retreat permanently.