Defending her territory! Moment brave husky charges at a COUGAR prowling outside family’s home in rural Canada
This is the dramatic moment a brave husky faced down a cougar which was trespassing on her owner's property in Canada.
The footage, shot on December 21, shows the husky, named Miika, lunging at the cougar outside the home in Saanich, Vancouver Island, British Columbia.
Miika's owner, Jarrod Lucoe started filming as his dog faced down the terrifying cat which was three times the size of the family pet.
Jared said his father, Mr Lucoe raced out of the house and began howling like 'Scooby Do' and waving his arms frantically to scare the cougar from his property and to protect Miika from the dangerous big cat. 
Miika the husky charged towards a wild cougar three times her size after it approached its owners' home in Saanich, Vancouver Island, British Columbia on December 21
Wildlife experts said the cougar was large enough to kill the husky if it decided to pounce
Jarrod's father, pictured, raced out of the house and screamed at the cougar forcing it to retreat from the property. Jarrod said his father sounded like Scooby Do
Jarrod's footage shows the well-trained husky stopping immediately he is called and running back to the house.
Afterwards, Jarrod said he was afraid for his dog's safety as she approached the cougar, describing the situation as 'surreal'.
He told ChekNews: 'I was honestly extremely scared for her and my dad’s fight or flight action just took effect. I’ve never heard him scream like that in my life, he kind of sounds like Scooby-Doo.'
His mother Belinda Lucoe added: 'I think she reacted then all of a sudden as she got closer we were all screaming and she probably sensed our fear and then probably had some fear as well is what I’m thinking.'
Jarrod told Global News: 'She had to lie down, she was really shaken up about it.'
He said he had come home for lunch when the incident happened: 'At this time, my sister looks outside and notices Miika hiding behind one of the cars.
Saanich Police issued a public safety alert after receiving video of the encounter with the cat
'We’ve had some dogs come from trails around here, come on to the property and sniff around. She’s pretty good at guarding the house and standing up for herself.'
He said it was the first time he had seen a cougar in the area. The vicious predator was about three times the size of the husky and represented a major threat to the family's pet.
Local conservation officer Peter Pauwels said the Lucoe family had done everything correctly to scare off the cougar from their property.
He said encounters between cougars and humans are increasingly common though they are rarely caught on camera.
Saanich police shared the video on their Twitter account to warn householders about the danger posed by the wild cats.
Saanich Police added: 'We share the environment with large animals such as cougars and bears so residents must take into consideration that encounters with these animals are very likely.'
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