Cassie, French Bulldog, Dies Defending Owners From Bear Attack

CALIFORNIA — When Cassie, a beloved French bulldog, tried to protect her owners from a bear, she was fighting above her weight.

Cassie helped protect them, but she did not survive the attack. The French bulldog died two days after the Sept. 19 attack that seriously injured her owners, Jeff and Mallory Wilson, outside their rural Northern California home.

Jeff had followed Cassie outside when a bear attacked him, according to a GoFundMe campaign.

Cassie moved between Jeff and the bear. Mallory awoke to the sounds of the attack and ran outside to help. The bear attacked her, too.

“Jeff followed our 7-year-old French bulldog, Cassie, outside and was attacked by a bear. Cassie immediately came to his defense, putting herself between Jeff and the bear,” Mallory told KRON4.

Mallory said she came outside after hearing screams and was also attacked before they had time to understand what was happening.

Jeff suffered two broken ribs and numerous bite and claw wounds. Mallory sustained serious injuries to her head and face, along with other bite and puncture wounds.

Both received hospital care, returned home, and now face continued treatment and recovery.

The couple operate a small hospitality business in Trinity County and have years of experience living and working alongside wildlife, according to their friend Rachel Moscon, who started the GoFundMe campaign.

Moscon said the couple take precautions to live peacefully with the animals that share their land. “They are passionate animal lovers, which has made this extraordinarily rare encounter and the loss of Cassie heartbreaking on so many levels.”

The Wilsons have canceled guest reservations while they recover and cooperate with an ongoing wildlife investigation.

They also face emergency veterinary expenses, property damage, and the cost of hiring help for work they cannot currently do, according to Moscon.

The couple said they do not want the attack to fuel fear or hatred of wildlife. They told KRON4 they can grieve Cassie and be devastated by what happened while still respecting the wild animals that belong in these places.