Dogs are wonderful buddies because they are devoted and affectionate. They have sharp instincts and are quick to assist their owners if the latter is in trouble, even if doing so puts them in harm’s way.

As an example, there was a brave dog that was able to effectively fend off an approaching mountain lion and save the life of its master.

Erin Wilson of Trinity County, California, adores her pet Belgian Malinois, Eva, who is now 2 and a half years old and was born in Belgium. The two were enjoying a pleasant walk by the river when all of a sudden, the day turned violent, and they found themselves in a fight for their lives.

According to the Sacramento Bee, Erin was attacked by a mountain lion that pounced on her and scratched through her jacket while it roared. Erin yelled for assistance from her loyal dog Eva since there was no one else around, and the dog immediately ran to help her.

Erin asserts that Eva bravely confronted the mountain lion, “striking that beast quite hard,” and diverting the attention of the enormous cat away from herself. The dog, on the other hand, was no match for the mountain lion, and the animal “latched on to her head,” inflicting the dog with extreme pain. Erin swiftly paid back the favor by battling the enormous cat with sticks and rocks, and she also enlisted the aid of a nearby car, whose occupants ended the assault by blasting the wild animal with pepper spray.

Eva was finally able to escape the mountain lion’s grasp, but not before the dog had major head wounds. She had a couple of puncture marks on her face, Erin said to the Sacramento Bee. “And at that moment, all she was doing was spitting blood out of her mouth.”

Eva was taken to the veterinarian, and despite the grim prognosis, the courageous dog made it through the ordeal. Erin has reported that her hero, Eva, is making progress in her recovery, and the veterinarians are “optimistic” about her prognosis. Erin has established a GoFundMe page to aid with paying for Eva’s medical expenses.

Although Eva suffered some critical wounds in the process, she was ultimately able to save the life of her owner. According to Captain Patrick Foy, who works for the Department of Fish and Wildlife in the state of California, “I feel it’s fair to infer that the dog definitely saved her life.”

Erin said that her dog is her hero and that she owes her life to her on the GoFundMe website.