A man from Port Alberni, BC, was slightly injured when he went to rescue his dog from a cougar attack on Wednesday evening.
The BC Conservation Service says the attack occurred shortly after 9 p.m. in a residential area of the community along Timberlane Road.
The man had let his little dog out when suddenly a cougar pounced on the pet, according to the BCCOS.
The man rushed to the animals and managed to kick the cougar and grab his dog, scaring the predator.
The conservation service says the man received minor injuries at the meeting, and that the dog was injured but is now recovering from the injuries.
Conservation agents and a tracking dog are in the Mid-Island community looking for the cougar, BCCOS said Thursday.
The conservation service is asking residents to be vigilant and to keep their pets tied up.
Earlier this spring, there was an eruption of puma attacks on companion dogs on Vancouver Island, though generally in the South Island area.
Up to five cougar attacks on dogs were reported in March and early April.