Dog dies trying to protect northern California couple from bear attack

Couple was seriously injured after attack on 19 September and are mourning the death of their French bulldog

A bear attack last weekend has left a California couple seriously injured and mourning the death of their French bulldog, who tried to protect them from the animal.

In the early hours of 19 September, Jeff Wilson, who lives in rural northern California, let his dog Cassie go outside, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

When Jeff went to bring Cassie inside, a cinnamon bear, a subspecies of the black bear, appeared, slamming him into the side of his home and breaking two of his ribs, according to the paper.

His wife, Mallory Wilson, was roused by sounds of a struggle and ran outside to a harrowing scene.