Chloe, a mixed-breed dog from Nipigon, Ontario, has been honored for defending her family from a black bear that broke into their home last September 16th. Chloe is credited with holding off the bear until police arrived to dispatch it, during which time she suffered a serious bite wound but continued to protect her owners. The incident occurred just months after Chloe was rescued by her owners in May 2019. As part of her recognition, Chloe has been inducted into the Purina Animal Hall of Fame, which has honored over 180 pets for their bravery and devotion since its establishment in 1968.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-19,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
In September of last year, a black bear broke into the home of Colette and Joe Shwetz in Nipigon, Ontario. Their dog, Chloe, a medium-sized mixed-breed rescue who was about 6 months old when they adopted her in May 2019, chased the bear away from her family. Chloe's bravery has now been recognized by the Purina Animal Hall of Fame, which honored her for her "remarkable bravery and unwavering devotion" in protecting her owners during a life-threatening emergency. The Shwetzes describe Chloe as a humble and loving dog who doesn't seek attention, but was clearly willing to defend them when needed.
Written for “Bear Attack Foiled by Hero Dog” on 2026-08-31,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
This article does not take a side on a contested political
question, so it has no leaning score. That is an
answer rather than a gap: a match report or a rescue can be warmly
or critically written without being left or right, and scoring it
anyway is how approval of a subject gets recorded as a political
position.
No political leaning scored for article 1242 · logged 2026-08-24
'She's our hero': dog honoured after protecting Nipigon, Ont., family from black bear last fall
Bear burst into home last September
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A dog from Nipigon, Ont., is being recognized for her efforts to protect her family from a black bear last fall.
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dog → recognize → bear
Chloe, a mixed-breed, medium-sized dog, has been inducted into the Purina Animal Hall of Fame, which recognizes pets "for their remarkable bravery and unwavering devotion in protecting their owners during life-threatening emergencies," a media release states.
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release → induct → emergencies
"She's a rescue dog," said Colette Shwetz, who owns Chloe along with her husband, Joe.
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who → say → husband
"We rescued her in May 2019.
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She was about six months old when she came to us."
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she → come → us
"She doesn't like a lot of attention.
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She's just one of those old soul dogs," Colette Shwetz said, adding "she's just full of love.
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she → say → love
Chloe was let out into the yard, and when she came back in, the bear followed.
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bear → let → yard
"Here we are in my kitchen, the three of us, me, the dog and the bear," Colette Shwetz said.
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Joe Shwetz was already asleep, but was woken up by Chloe's barking.
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"I got up, run out, went into the kitchen," Joe Shwetz said.
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Shwetz → get → kitchen
"Chloe had a hind leg, which was the bear, in her mouth, trying to pull it towards the door."
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which → have → door
All three managed to get the bear out of the kitchen and into an adjoining hallway, and it then made its way into the basement.
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Held off the bear until police arrived
Chloe "stood guard," Colette Shwetz said, barking and holding the bear off until the police arrived and dispatched it.
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"We all ended up with a lot of staples and stitches and a lot of wound care," Colette Shwetz said.
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"Chloe, we almost lost her through the bite that she got, but she did really well.
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We got her through it.
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"
And Chloe also got a steak dinner as a reward, Colette Shwetz said.
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"She's our hero," she said.
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"I know that without her, I would not be here.
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In a media release, Purina said the hall of fame was established in 1968, and has so far recognized 198 animals — 170 dogs, 27 cats, and one horse — "for extraordinary acts of courage and devotion that have helped save lives across Canada."
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that → say → Canada
Murph, an Australian Blue Merle Sheepdog from Kenora, was inducted in 1984 after she alerted her owners to a fire in the apartment building they were living in.
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they → induct → building
Her owners then rushed to notify all the other residents, and all escaped the fire.
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all → rush → fire
