BOSTON BAR, B.C. A British Columbia family's golden retriever is being hailed as a hero after he saved an 11-year-old boy's life when a cougar attacked him Saturday night, reports CTV News in Canada.

The dog named Angel intervened when the cougar charged at the boy as he went outside to get some firewood.

Police later shot the cougar dead, and credited the dog with saving the boy's life.

According to a Royal Canadian Mounted Police spokesperson, the boy had gone outside to get some firewood at his family's home in Boston Bar, about 160 miles northeast of Vancouver.

Suddenly a cougar began to charge across the yard at the boy. That's when Angel stepped in and engaged the cougar, which was much larger than the dog, allowing the boy to get away.

Family members called the police, and an RCMP officer was on the scene within a minute.

The cougar dragged the dog under the home's back porch, and the dog could be heard crying out in pain as the cougar chewed on its neck.

The officer fired two rounds into the cougar's rear end, but the cougar continued its attack.

The officer then moved in closer and shot the cougar again, killing it.

The dog survived with only minor injuries. The boy was not hurt.