A dramatic video captured the moment a family's pet dog fought off a bear that charged at a six-year-old boy, in an incident described as heroic. The footage, filmed in Connecticut, shows the dog intervening to protect the child as the bear approached, highlighting the growing frequency of human-wildlife encounters in areas where bear populations overlap with residential neighbourhoods.

The dog's swift action is credited with preventing the situation from escalating, allowing the boy to avoid harm during the confrontation. The clip has drawn widespread attention online for the dramatic nature of the encounter and the animal's protective instinct.