A late-night encounter with a black bear turned tragic for a Northern California couple after the animal mauled the homeowners and fatally injured their French bulldog.The dog reportedly tried to protect them during the vicious attack, which left them hospitalized.In the early morning hours of Sept.19, Jeff and Mallory Wilson's dog, Cassie, let out a single bark — prompting Jeff Wilson to go outside and check the backyard of their Trinity County home.BLACK BEARS INVADE LAKE TAHOE HOMES AS BREAK-INS SURGE AND LOCALS FORTIFY DEFENSESWhen he opened the door, a cinnamon-colored black bear emerged from behind their patio furniture, lunging at him and knocking him to the floor. The commotion woke his wife — who went outside and was then also attacked by the bear, according to a GoFundMe organized by a longtime friend of the married couple.Jeff and Mallory Wilson of California suffered serious injuries in the Sept.
19 bear attack.Their beloved French bulldog, Cassie, later died from the injuries she sustained during the encounter.
(GoFundMe)"I think the bear was startled by us just as much as we were startled by it," Wilson later told the news site Redheaded Blackbelt.During the attack, their dog Cassie threw herself between Wilson and the bear, which grabbed the dog in its mouth and started to run away with it, according to reports. The owners got the bear to drop their dog and finally scared it off. GRIZZLY BEAR MAULS HIKER, DRAGS HIM DOZENS OF FEET ON GLACIER NATIONAL PARK TRAILThough badly wounded themselves, the couple rushed their dog to emergency care.The pet underwent surgery to treat multiple wounds, including along her spine — but "tragically died two days" after the incident, according to the fundraising page.The page described the pet as "a deeply loved member of their family."The couple is facing continued medical treatment and recovery. Jeff Wilson, meanwhile, suffered two broken ribs and numerous bite and claw wounds, while Mallory Wilson sustai...