Florida man battles bear to save dog in late night drama

That evening, as he did every day, Sprout let his three dogs out into the yard before bedtime. He wasn't prepared to find three unexpected visitors outside his door.

Before I could stop my dogs, they ran straight toward the bears, he recounted in an interview with the "WSVN" station.

When one of the bears grabbed a small dog named Karen, Sprout didn't hesitate. He made a daring attempt to save his pet, risking his own life in the process.

I couldn't let Karen die. She was screaming in pain, he later admitted.

Sprout kicked one of the young bears, forcing it to release the dog. Unfortunately, the situation escalated as the bear attacked Sprout, biting him in the abdomen.

Eventually, the predator grabbed the dog again and ran away. Sprout refused to give up—he hurled stones at the bears until the aggressor let Karen go and retreated with its companions. The entire incident was captured by surveillance cameras.

Although Blake Sprout sustained injuries—a large bruise on his abdomen and the need for rabies vaccinations—he insists he doesn't regret his decision for a moment.

It's pretty swollen, but everything should be fine, he said about his injuries.

Karen also faced challenges—the dog required stitches, which were removed on Friday.

Following this dramatic event, Sprout learned to be more cautious.

I'm more careful when I go outside, and I check before I go out with them, he emphasized in an interview with reporters.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission quickly responded to the incident. The bears that attacked in Orange City were captured along with their mother and relocated to a more distant area. This action aims to enhance safety in the region.