Puppy distracts bear and helps save family in Russia's Irkutsk region

A 10-month-old East Siberian Laika distracted a bear when it met a family in a forest in Russia’s Irkutsk region.

The family had gone mushroom picking, and the dog’s actions helped the people escape.

The puppy suffered multiple serious wounds to its neck.

Veterinarians in Ust-Kut operated, cleaned the wounds and stitched them; the dog is recovering and was prescribed medicines.

Another bear encounter involving two dogs was recorded in the region in October, and those dogs did not survive.

Bear encounters and attacks have been reported across Russia in 2026, with poor supplies of berries and mushrooms and easy access to food at dumps and in open bins cited as reasons.

The sources give no further update on the puppy’s recovery.