According to a report by KSLTV News, a brave Labrador retriever from Cedar Hills, Utah, came to the rescue of his beloved family on July 19th when confronted by a mountain lion. Despite getting injured in the process, the heroic dog managed to survive.

Crystal Michaelis and her children were playing in their backyard with their 7-year-old yellow Labrador named Ella when the dog spotted a mountain lion. Although Michaelis didn’t initially see the predator, she realized that Ella was acting strangely and seemed to be watching both the children and the area where the mountain lion was lurking.

As a result of Ella’s quick thinking, Michaelis ushered her children indoors, and upon returning to the patio gate, they discovered that Ella had been severely injured in a confrontation with the mountain lion. The dog’s head, face, legs, tongue, and neck were severely wounded, and blood covered both Ella and the patio area of the house. While the family was not present during the altercation, officials from the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) discovered tracks leading to the area.

Although some time has passed since the mountain lion was last seen, the Utah DWR advises people to remain vigilant and cautious. According to Faith Jolley, a public relations officer at the DWR, mountain lions tend to follow deer due to their dependence on them as a primary food source. Jolley also notes that deer sightings have been reported in the same region.

According to Michaelis, Ella had been bitten about 30 times, with the bites starting from her shoulders and moving downward. This indicates that she fought fiercely to protect herself. Despite her injuries, Ella is expected to recover. Watch the video for more details on this story.