A Florida man was bitten by a bear after the animal got ahold of his dog last month, according to NBC affiliate WESH.

A fight between a dog and a bear led to a man being injured when he dared to intervene on behalf of his beloved pooch, according to investigators in Florida. It happened after dark Dec. 20 in Orange City, and the man was lucky he avoided meeting the cub’s mother, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said.