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The death of a two-year-old Belgian Malinois, named Eva, has brought sadness and heartbreak to her owner Erin Wilson. Eva passed away on Wednesday due to the injuries she sustained while saving her owner from a mountain lion attack in California on May 16. Erin expressed her love and sorrow for her beloved pet on the GoFundMe account created to assist with Eva’s medical expenses and shared the news on Instagram with a quote, “We love you, Eva. We said goodbye at 9:20 this morning. There were no changes to her condition overnight. Goodbye, my beautiful sweet girl. You are my world, my light, my best friend. The world is a much darker place.”
Erin and Eva were on a walk near Northern California’s Trinity River when a mountain lion charged at Erin. The mountain lion ripped through Erin’s jacket, scratching her shoulder and growling at her. In a moment of fear, Erin yelled “Eva!” and her 55-pound dog came running, hitting the cat hard.
The two animals fought for a couple of seconds before the mountain lion latched onto Eva’s skull. Erin was able to get help from a passerby, Sharon Houston, to attack the mountain lion and finally free Eva.
Eva suffered two fractures to her skull, a puncture in the sinus cavity, and severe swelling around her left eye from the attack. Despite being taken to the nearest emergency vet clinic 90 minutes away, the convulsions and the severity of Eva’s skull fracture led to her deterioration and eventual death. Despite this, Erin considered her dog a hero and credited her for saving her life. She said, “My dog is my hero, and I owe her my life.”
The loss of Eva has left a hole in Erin’s heart and the world is indeed a much darker place without her. The love and devotion between a pet and their owner is a bond that cannot be broken, and in this case, Eva’s bravery and sacrifice will never be forgotten. Rest in peace, Eva. You will always be remembered as a hero.
