A woman in Northern California escaped the grave danger of a mountain lion attack as her dog risked its life to protect her.

Erin Wilson, 24, told the Sacramento Bee on Tuesday that she will "never be able to live up" to her dog's loyalty.

Wilson is from Trinity County, which is located roughly four hours northwest of Sacramento. She took Eva, a 2 1/2-year-old Belgian Malinois, for an afternoon stroll along the Trinity River near unincorporated Big Bar on Monday.

Wilson was walking along a road with Eva a few yards ahead of her when a mountain lion leaped and swiped at her, clawing Wilson's left shoulder through her jacket.

"I yelled 'Eva!' and she came running," Wilson said. Then the dog hit the big cat hard.

The dog, which weighs 55 pounds, was overwhelmed by the cougar but fought back valiantly.

Wilson said that the two animals fought "for a couple of seconds," and then she heard Eva crying.

The cougar bit the dog's head and wouldn't let go, despite Wilson's attempts to choke it and gouge its eyes with rocks, sticks, and her fists.

The cat scratched the dog with its back paws as it attempted to kick her off. Wilson dashed back to her pickup truck, grabbed a tire iron, and signaled a passing vehicle.

Sharon Houston, the driver, grabbed a long piece of PVC pipe as well as pepper spray. The women banded together and began pounding the lion who had dragged the dog off the track.

When Houston sprayed it with pepper spray, the animal eventually escaped and headed to the river.

Wildlife Officers Investigate The Attack

Wildlife authorities are investigating the reported mountain lion attack and have obtained samples for analysis, which are currently being processed at a laboratory, per ABC News.

Capt. Patric Foy of the Department of Fish and Wildlife law enforcement division said initial findings are "strong enough to allow wildlife officers to treat the investigation as a legitimate attack."

Wilson received treatment for her non-life-threatening bite wounds, scratches, and abrasions from a hospital in Redding. She also received preventative treatment for rabies.

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Hero Dog In Critical Condition

However, according to wildlife officials, the dog's condition has been labeled as "guarded," and it is unclear if the animal will survive.

According to Wilson's husband, Connor Kenny, Eva suffered two fractures to her skull, a perforated sinus cavity, and major damage to her left eye, according to a report from SFGATE.

However, the dog's condition improved overnight; the convulsions ceased, and she appeared to be conscious of her surroundings.

Kenny hopes that the hero dog will pull through. "She's a fighter, clearly."

Mountain lion attacks on humans are uncommon, but when they do happen, the animals are usually killed.

Meanwhile, Wilson expressed her optimism that Eva would recover. She's set up a GoFundMe page to help with the veterinary care costs, and she's already thinking about how she'll thank Eva: with new stuffed toys and a steak meal, per CBS News.

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