Tiny dog chases bear out of West Vancouver home in viral video
A West Vancouver woman is calling her tiny dog a “hero” after he fearlessly chased a bear out of their home, an encounter thatās since gone viral across the globe.
In the now widely shared TikTok video, a black bear is seen wandering inside Kayla Kleineās home before her small dog, Scout, charges at it, barking and sending the much-larger intruder fleeing.
Speaking with Daily Hive, Kleine said the incident happened on Monday while she was getting ready in the bathroom with music playing, unaware that a bear had entered through an open door.
“My dog was sleeping on the bed, and the bear just walked into the living room and then into the kitchen to eat Scoutās food,” she said.
“I thought it was just Scout in the kitchen until I heard him jump off the bed and run. Then I saw the bear… and Scout chasing it out!”
Kleine says her first reaction was shock, quickly followed by concern for Scoutās safety.
“I was scared the bear would realize Scout is tiny and could easily hurt him. I just didnāt want him to get hurt.”
Scout, a two-and-a-half-year-old pup she and her family adopted just over two years ago, didnāt seem to care about the size difference.
“He was angry that the bear was in his house, eating his food,” she laughed.
The video has since racked up hundreds of thousands of views and been shared across countries including Japan, Korea, Finland, and Ireland.
@kaylakleine the bear was in our kitchen for a few min eating the dog foodā¦ #bear #guarddog #pomeranian #vancouver #fyp ā¬ Welp, Didn’t Expect That – Yu-Peng Chen & HOYO-MiX
“My family in Ireland even sent it back to me!” said Kleine.
“Itās been wild seeing how many people love Scout and think heās so cute and brave.”
While the family has occasionally seen bears in their backyard at night, this is the first time one has entered their home, and in broad daylight, no less.
As for Scout, heās been basking in the love and praise, along with some extra treats.
“We just keep telling him how famous he is. Iām so proud of him.”
Scoutās heroic moment might be adorable, but it also highlights a very real issue of bear safety.
According to the District of West Vancouver, garbage is behind 80 per cent of bear encounters in the area.
Once a bear learns that houses can lead to food, it can become a serious safety risk, not just for residents but also for the bear itself.
Thatās why the District is urging residents to clean up their act; keep your bins indoors, feed pets inside, rinse your recyclables, and skip leaving food out on the barbecue.
Even seemingly innocent things like fallen fruit, dirty meat trays, or outdoor freezers can draw curious bears and land them in trouble.
Kleine said she left the door open because the house doesnāt have air conditioning, something sheās rethinking now.
“I think Iāll just keep it shut… maybe weāll get an AC unit,” she told Daily Hive.
The North Shore Black Bear Society is encouraging locals to report bear sightings and anything that might be attracting them before another Scout has to step in.
You can call or text the society at 604-317-4911, or reach the Conservation Officer Service directly at 1-877-952-7277 if public safety is at risk.
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