Hero Dog Saves Hiking Owners From Mountain Lion (VIDEO)

Hoagie the mixed lab defended his owners from a mountain lion when they were all hiking in the Santa Ana Mountains in California.

The dog fought off the lion and they all escaped, but the dog was severely injured.

UPDATE: DID HOAGIE START THE FIGHT?

The guardians of truth at the Los Angeles Times report that this heroic tale may be a bit exaggerated:

Two game wardens searched the Bluejay Campground in the Santa Ana Mountains in Orange County and interviewed Morse. Based on the evidence, they say, Hoagie attacked the mountain lion, not vice versa.

WATCH:

Comments

[local21]

05:58 PM on 05/10/2009

Hoagie runs off a mountain lion and trees 3 republicans to boot.

[nice2blucky]

02:55 PM on 05/09/2009

Once again, did none other than FOX News report on this story?

Why not simply use FOX News when there is no alternative? There must have been another.

[ImpressedByHonesty]

01:56 PM on 05/09/2009

One dog can not 'fight off' a mountain lion. It is impossible. The lion must have decided to walk away. Here in SoCal mountain lions take full blown dobermans' and akitas over 7 foot fences to dine. They can drag horses 1/2 a mile after the kill. A pack of dogs, yes, but not one.

[GayGrandpa]

02:35 PM on 05/09/2009

What are you saying it is a hoax?

[Culturemaven]

11:37 AM on 05/09/2009

"Leave vic-ious or unusually noisy dogs at home.
Please keep your dog on a leash no more than 6 feet long, or otherwise restrict its freedom to roam at will."
This is from the Cleveland Nat'l Forst/Bluejay Campground website.

Mr. Morse was clearly violating the rules by allowing his dog to roam and concocted a cover story when the animal at-tacked the native wildlife. I hope he gets a ticket to go with the vet bills.

[Queenhuh]

05:28 PM on 05/09/2009

I love your comment Culuremaven, thank you so much. YES yes yes, I live in northern New Hampshire and am constantly pi%%%d off by hikers who let their dogs run amuck unleashed. They kill raccoons, injure baby deer, baby moose, baby bear and countless other wild life including ransacking birds nests. Why do many dog owners have self entitled personalities? Dogs are domesticated animals and belong on leashes or at home. That's where I always kept mine who just recently passed on.

[Steambomb]

08:58 AM on 05/09/2009

Hoagie was quoted as saying "Oh yeah? You should see the other guy."

[IhaveaDREAMwhitegirl]

01:00 AM on 05/09/2009

It's my understanding that cougars stalk humans and attack like lightening. If the dog attacked first, well good on him, his instinct may have saved his owner(s).

When I went camping, near mt. Hood, we were descending , after only one night, and saw an older couple with 2 medium blk dogs wearing bells, off leash but on the trail only 10 ft or so ahead of the owners. I thought it was a smart idea, especially after seeing that some bears had left fresh scat right on the trail 3 times at 15 ft distances. (who knew bears were so SMART.. it's like they were showing us they were around, a 'No Treaspassing" sign from the 'homies'!)

Respect and be aware of environments, inner city as well as woodlands and preserves. Hope the dog, cat and humans are O.K.

[ECB]

11:34 PM on 05/08/2009

Get well Hoagie - you ROCK !

[LynnW49]

06:40 PM on 05/08/2009

Exaggeration in a Fox News Report? Stunning.

[LadyR]

06:11 PM on 05/08/2009

Precious doggie--get well soon!

[VerticalText]

06:10 PM on 05/08/2009

Great story. This is why I watch Fox News. You can tell they actually care about the people involved.

[wedgie]

07:50 AM on 05/09/2009

Sigh.

**

[Steambomb]

09:11 AM on 05/09/2009

yep that Fox news sure is caring. I lurves me some fox news.

[MarlinandJim]

05:46 PM on 05/08/2009

Who names their dog after a sandwich? What did they expect? Old yeller he ain’t!

[ImpressedByHonesty]

01:58 PM on 05/09/2009

Even Old Yeller didn't fare too well, if you read the series.

[sheilaofmiami]

05:37 PM on 05/08/2009

The power of the Pack is very strong. The mountain lion was either sick or hungry, and yes likely attacked first, a dog will not be in a hurry to go after something it knows by smell is prepared to eat it. Dogs are smart that way. My dogs stay away from the snakes in the yard until they are moving in the correct direction, towards the fence, then the dog give chase, to be sure it leaves, they get that I don't want them in the yard.

Dog behavior is pretty easy to understand once you take time to separate yourself and your human feelings from the dog. Humans are 98% the same DNA as our next relative, dog are 99% + I believe, wolf. Wolves don't go after mountain lions unless it is to defend the pack.

Good dog.

[TXfemmom]

04:30 PM on 05/08/2009

This is another example of how animals are loyal and loving to their owners. Get well and feel better soon Hoagie. My pets add so much to my lives and truly love me just as I am.

[SoutherngentinLA]

04:17 PM on 05/08/2009

It amazes me that in 2009 we can't come up with something a little more dignified than those stupid cones!!!!

[sheilaofmiami]

05:33 PM on 05/08/2009

Until you have had a dog that is after him/her self and needs to be stopped, you don't know. I have NO-BITE collars, in 2 sizes. This is a flat collar that is stiff plastic so the dog cannot bend their neck around. Works as well as the E-collar , but with less stress, and less banging around.

MY vet loves that I have these and that I know how to care for my dogs so well. I have not been paid but I have worked at his office when he needed an extra hand.

[greymom]

07:08 PM on 05/08/2009

I have greyhounds and one required the elizabethan collar and it would not stay on and drove him nuts.. Do you think that two or three wide martingale collars would do the trick?

[AlexFTW]

07:38 AM on 05/08/2009

Hoagie! Get well soon little buddy.

[eozzy]

04:37 PM on 05/08/2009

Domestics pets don't do well in these settings and harm the habitat of the established native species, even big cats, and should always be on a lease in the backcountry or suburban park areas. Enter at your own risk, obviously the cat was lenient on the canine in this case.

[HummusGringo]

05:32 PM on 05/08/2009

I'd be interested to know what evidence the game wardens were pointing to - that would totally change the face of this story.

Mountain lions generally don't attack humans, especially in groups. I'm sure the average dog would take a keen interest in a cat of any size.

My aunt once had a 4 1/2 lb. male yorkie that would attack ANY cat, of ANY size, ANYTIME. He had absolutely no fear of death, mutilation, or divine retribution. Amazing little bugger...