How far would you go to save your pet?

Would you punch a bear in the face?

Last week, one cosmetologist in Juneau, Alaska, did just that. When her dachshund Fudge was snagged by a black bear that had been hanging around their neighborhood, 22-year-old Brooke Collins bravely slugged it out to save her dog.

“It had her kind of like when they eat salmon,” Collins said. “I was freaking out. I was screaming at it. My dog was screaming. I ran up to it … I just punched it right in the snout, and it let go. I think it was more startled than anything.”

Black bears aren’t uncommon in Juneau, especially when natural resources – like berries – are scarce, leading them to wander into towns in search of food. Collins is an Alaskan native and used to having to deal with the big beasts and take precautions around them.

As for Fudge, she was not seriously hurt, although Collins says she is keeping her animals inside for the moment since that particular bear is still in the area.

If it comes down to round two, we’ve got bets on Collins for the knockout punch.