BRAVING A BEAR: What would you do if you saw a bear? For Fretz sixth grader Caleigh Means, the answer is save a loved one, which is something the family’s three-year-old French Bulldog/Pug mix, Gracie, was happy to learn.

David Means Jr. shared a story with the newsroom about a bear sighting last Monday night, in his backyard.

The Means have a backyard that is surrounded by forest. Caleigh had taken Gracie outside around 9:30 p.m. and attached her to a dog runner. While standing inside the backdoor, she scanned the yard and noticed a black bear roughly 20 feet from the door.

Caleigh, without hesitation, ran into the yard and snatched up the pup, quickly bringing her back into the house and slamming the door.

The bear remained in the yard for hours.

It is important to remember that we share our gorgeous locale with some big furry critters.

The Pennsylvania Game Commission says that bears generally steer clear of chained or penned dogs but that an unleashed dog could be at risk of injury or death if it approaches a bear.

Therefore, dog owners are advised to keep the dog close to the house, leash animals while hiking in the woods and try to remember to look around the yard before letting a dog out, especially at night.

The PGC also says, “If you come across a bear on your property, there are two possible courses of action. The first is to make loud noises or shout at the bear from a distance – like you’d react to a dog getting into your trash. The second option is to leave the bear alone, and clean up the bear’s mess after it leaves. Follow up by making sure you eliminate whatever attracted the bear in the first place. You may need to talk to your neighbors, as well.”