Yona, Cherokee for 'Bear'

by Dee
(Thaxton, Va, USA)

<~>~<~> Good job Frank <~>~<~>

We got our Pyr, Yona Unega, Cherokee for 'white bear', when she was 5 months old - we traded 4 billy goats for her - and we got the better end of that deal -

Initially, we had Yona chained to the chicken house down by the house until she was oriented to our farm, when one night she was barking and barking - and I could tell something was up -

I went out, flashlight in hand and pointed it in the direction she was barking, as I was saying 'What are you barking at?', my flashlight landed on the back of a 350# black bear who was sitting, looking over his shoulder at me as if to say 'What?' I said 'Oh, no', turned and ran, while Yona stood at the corner of the hen house, continuing to bark at him -

We know how big he was because they eventually trapped him, did a vet check and relocated him -

We have 4 full Pyrs and 2 half Pyr and the neighbors dog, Beanie, is a half breed, too - and, he spends more time at our farm than he does at home -

One evening my DH was feeding the goats and Beanie jumped up on him to see what he had in the bucket - well, our Pyrs were having no part of that and 3 of them grabbed him and started pulling him every which way but loose - I heard the commotion from the house, as my husband shot off his pistol to stop the assault - the Pyrs all let Beanie go and he ran home - I called his parents and told them what happened, so they could check him for injuries - he was OK -

Beanie came back the next morning and no one acted like anything had even happened - it's just a matter of the Pyrs identifying a threat and taking control of the situation - no hesitation, no fear, no regrets -

And, they don't hold a grudge either - lol

They are the most wonderful creatures - instinctual, intelligent, independent thinkers, willing to lay down their life for you and yours - and we never have to worry about predators harming our goats or chickens or us, as long as they are on guard -

Thank you Yona & company for your service - We love you -