Hudson Valley Dog Seriously Injured During Backyard Bear Attack

A local Hudson Valley family is hoping their family pet makes a full recovery after a brutal bear attack.

Bear Attacks Dog in Pine Bush, New York

Lauren Maresca of Pine Bush, New York, was outside with her dog Cayman on June 11th, 2026, when the unthinkable happened.

A bear charged towards Lauren and Cayman. According to a GoFundMe account as the bear charged towards Lauren "Cayman instinctively stepped in to protect her."

Shawna White, who created the GoFundMe page, explains that Cayman's brave actions caused him devastating injuries. White writes:

Cayman instinctively stepped in to protect her. In doing so, he suffered devastating injuries and nearly lost his life.

The statement goes on to add Cayman's "bravery likely saved Lauren from being seriously injured. He truly is a hero."

We spoke with Lauren who tells us she believes this was a mama bear, and that the bear might have been triggered by Cayman's barking.

She adds that it happened around 8:30 at night and they were just going outside for their normal bathroom break before bed.

Dog Attacked By Bear Facing Long Recovery Process

After the attack Cayman underwent emergency surgery.

The GoFundMe page shares that the pup is "now facing a long recovery." The page was created to help Maresca cover Cayman's medical expenses and ongoing care.

Cayman’s injuries were extensive, and the emergency surgery was just the beginning of his journey.

Cayman will need more surgery and veterinary care to "regain his strength and to battle some new infections that have happened."

Pet owners know, veterinary bills add up quickly. Especially when they are this extensive with the sever injuries Cayman suffered. The goal is to reach $11,000 through the GoFundMe. As of June 19th, 2026, they have raised over $8,000.

If you'd like to help Cayman recovery efforts visit the GoFundMe page HERE. 

Bear Attack Safety in New York State

The Department of Environmental Conservation has been warning New Yorkers since early spring to be wary of bear sightings.

With that being said, no one expects a bear to pop up in their backyard randomly. The DEC writes:

Although black bears have a natural fear of humans, they can act or become defensive if surprised, approached, or become emboldened by human food sources.

They have a whole website, Be BearWise, that is dedicated to safety tips to avoid bear-human conflict.

To help keep your home safe from bear visits, the DEC recommends removing any food sources from your yard (like bird feeders, grills, pet bowls, etc...) and to keep garbage cans locked or a garage area.