Golden Retriever Ranger Saves His Devon Family

RADNOR TWP - On Monday night, a Devon woman was taking her dogs for a routine walk around a three-mile loop in the Willows Park when she heard screeching.

At first, Amanda Bernard thought it was a child having a tantrum.

“It came closer, and I saw a raccoon sprinting toward us,” Bernard said on Tuesday afternoon, still shaken by the event. "I’m screaming my head off. He bites my Jack Russell terrier, Venus.
“This racoon was coming at me so fast.”

Her golden retriever, Ranger, pulled the raccoon off of Venus. The raccoon backed away. I thought it was over. The raccoon retreated about five to eight feet. I grabbed Venus. The raccoon turned around and came at us again.

“Ranger got between me and Venus. I was hanging on to Venus and screaming. The raccoon attacked him and Ranger went into the water. The raccoon was dislodged. I ran into the path, screaming. I’m covered in dog blood.

“My golden retriever saved us. He’s a therapy dog.”

Bernard said as she was running away, she saw people she knew from her walks in the park.

“I told them I was attacked by a raccoon and told them to leave,” Bernard said.

Bernard drove the dogs to the VRC Emergency Pet Care Hospital in Malvern.

Venus was treated for puncture wounds to his back legs.

The wounds were clipped and thoroughly cleaned. Venus got a rabies vaccine booster and methadone

Ranger suffered a scratch on his nose. His nostrils were cleaned and he got a rabies vaccine also.

The veterinarian required both dogs to be kept under control and observed for 45 days.

The rabies virus causes inflammation of the brain and could be fatal.

Venus cannot be bathed until the wound heals, and should wear an e-collar at all times.

The trauma did not end there.

By midnight, Bernard was in the emergency room at the Paoli Hospital.

She got vaccinated for rabies.

Her son, Peter, 17, was calling on the phone, concerned because his mom wasn’t home.

Bernard is required to get four shots over 14 days.

As a result, she had to cancel her vacation to Europe.

Bernard said she shared her story to let people know to be careful when going for walks in parks.

She’s hopeful that the raccoon will be professionally trapped and removed as soon as possible.

“I just don’t want this to happen to children,” she said. “If the golden hadn’t been there, I don’t know what could have happened. It was pure luck that I had Ranger there. My dogs are alive.”