Dog saves woman's life
By Rob Learn

HER HERO: Marcella Burgess says she is still alive thanks to the selflessness of her dog Hannah. Photo by Rob Learn

KEARNEY: Marcella Burgess is certain she is still alive thanks to the unflinching reaction of her best friend Hannah.
Hannah is normally friendly and outgoing, but when the two were working in a clearing in the woods near her home on Grass Lake Road near Kearney, the slight 105 pound mother of eleven came charging, literally, to the rescue when a black bear bore down on Burgess.
“I have no question in my mind now that she would put herself in danger to save me,” says Burgess after the incident last Tuesday, September 20.
Little wonder that she is her best friend. Hannah is a rare breed, Boerboel to be precise.
They are South African farm dogs bred for their loyalty and to protect their owners from the many predators of that continent.
“Exactly what she did yesterday was what she was bred to do,” said Burgess the day after the encounter. “Protect the farm and protect the owners. She’s not vicious at all. She’s very friendly.”
That is, until a black bear comes bearing down on her owner.
The moment that the mother black bear came charging down on her was still engraved in Burgess’s mind when she sat down to talk with Almaguin News last week.
She and two-year-old Hannah (Afrika’s Tina CGC,OB1,BST,HIC,) were working on obedience training in a clearing in the bush about 200 to 300 yards from the family home when the harrowing experience happened.
Working on an obedience exercise, Burgess had told Hannah to stay and walked fifty feet away and waited to give Hannah the command to come.
It was then, that the mother bear and two cubs came out of the brush about half-way between the two, forming a triangle.
“When I saw the bear, I took a step backwards and the mother bear went from standing still to full-on charging at me,” said Burgess. “I start screaming and the next thing I know Hannah has lunged onto the bear and has her jaws around part of her neck.”
She says the bear stopped and with a swipe of its front paw batted the 80 pound dog off of its neck.
“The bear lifted her paw up and sent Hannah flying,” said Burgess.
That is when fear completely took over Burgess, as the bear continued its charge.
“I think I’m dead and the dog’s dead and I’m running and I’m screaming,” said Burgess.
When she looked back over her shoulder, there was Hannah back on the bear giving Burgess valuable time to make her getaway.
“I get back to the house and I’m screaming for Hannah and when I look down there she is right beside me,” said Burgess.
Hannah had blood coming from her mouth and down the front of her chest and Burgess, shaking, worried about what damage the bear had inflicted. But, amazingly, after a bath and thorough examination, there was not a mark to be found on the four-legged heroine.
Since then, Hannah has been leading an even more privileged life getting endless affection from Burgess’s husband Gord and her two daughters Savanah, 12, and Kasandra, 11.
“Rice Krispie squares - you name it, she is getting it,” said Burgess.
Savanah and Kasandra took the day off school on the Wednesday afterwards just to spend time with their mom and calm down after hearing the tale.
“Everybody got a little shook up about it,” said Burgess.
This summer and early fall has been the worst for the number of black bears around the Burgess’ home since the family moved in three years ago. Burgess says she has seen what she believes to be eight different bears over the course of the summer.
“I tell my girls, ‘If we don’t all go out together, stay right close to the house’,” said Burgess.
And the girls are listening to that instruction even more attentively now as they shower their dog with love and affection.
About Hannah, Savanah says, “She’s brave and heroic.”
“She’s my baby and I would do anything to keep her,” adds sister Cassandra.
As for Burgess herself, it may be some time before the memories become just that.
“I was terrified yesterday (the day of the attack). I felt so bad. I was leaving my dog there. I was leaving my baby behind,” said Burgess.
And Burgess soon learned that there was little that the government would do to help make her home safer.
“I called the 1-800 bear line,” said Burgess. “...They said there was nothing they could do unless the bear actually killed someone.”
Not while Hannah’s on duty.