A family dog proved that he's not only man's best friend, but man's best security guard, too.
Videos by Wide Open Country
When a black bear suddenly invaded a family's backyard in Connecticut on Independence Day and sprinted towards a 6-year-old child, a noble husky mix named Bella chased the predator away.
The incident was captured on video, and the dog's brave act has since gone viral.
The video begins with the Tazzara family's 6-year-old son Colton playing in front of their house. Out of nowhere, a massive black bear appears and begins charging towards Colton.
Bella then raced in and began chasing and biting the bear's rear end to drive it away.
Colton's dad, Jeffery Tazzara, told ABC News he heard the dog barking before he saw the attempted attack.
"A vicious bark, not like she barks and yips and howls and stuff. This was a different kind of bark," Tazzara said.
"[She] bit it in the rear end, and the bear ended up crashing into my boat. Then, I think [it] scurried under the boat. And then through the back between the houses and into the woods," Tazzara told the outlet.
During Bella's brave pursuit of the bear, Colton ran indoors for safety, the video shows.
For protecting Colton against a much larger predator, local politicians put together an award ceremony for the husky mix.
"Stories like hers remind us of the remarkable bond between families and their pets. And the incredible acts of heroism that can happen in our own communities," State Sen. Stephen Harding said in a Facebook post.
"Congratulations, Bella, on this well-deserved recognition. Connecticut is proud to call you one very good dog!" Harding said.
Heroic Dog Saves Owner From Bobcat
Bella is not the only dog to play the hero role this year.
In May, a German shepherd killed a bobcat that allegedly attacked and hospitalized several Phoenix residents, KTAR reported.
When the bobcat tried to maul the German shepherd's owner, however, he finally met his match.
During a battle of the beasts in a residential neighborhood, the German shepherd killed the bobcat, which later tested positive for rabies.
The dog sustained injuries and received veterinary treatment following the attack.
