Meet the Hero Dog Who Helped His Owner Fight Off a Black Bear

Man's best friend, indeed.

On Thursday, Steven Krichbaum, 59, was walking with his yellow Lab mix Henry in West Virginia's George Washington National Forest when they were confronted with something bear-y scary: two cubs and a larger black bear, who wasn't happy to see them. The animal proceeded to attack, and the guys leaped into action.

"Krichbaum and his dog attempted to fend off the attack and were subsequently injured," reads a press release given to NVDaily.com. According to the report, Krichbaum said the dog saved his life by attacking the bear while he kept striking it with a rock.

Their efforts worked: They managed to escape and were able to drive to a fruit market in Middletown, Virginia, where both of them, quite bloodied, received help from bystanders.

"He was really bleeding out," Eddie Richard, the store's owner, told NVDaily.com of Krichbaum's injuries. "He had a huge open gash on his forearm."

Witnesses told NVDaily.com that Krichbaum, who is reportedly in stable condition at Winchester Medical Center, suffered serious scratches and wounds, including a hole about the size of a 50-cent coin in his upper thigh. He is expected to recover.

His furry hero, who was taken to a local animal hospital, suffered wounds also, mostly to one of his hind legs, but should also be okay. Here's hoping he gets lots of treats upon his release!