ChewB(acca) survives a bear attack: The force was with the little North Carolina Yorkie

Although it wasn't May the Fourth (Star Wars Day), the force was with North Carolina resident John Koerber and his little Yorkie, ChewB – named after Chewbacca – when they came face-to-face last week with a large bear.

In the early morning hours of April 27, Koerber, 67, was sleeping when he felt a lick on his face. The lick came from his 6-year-old dog, ChewB, and he was ready to go outside. It was 4:15 a.m., about an hour earlier than usual for what Koerber calls ChewB's "morning pee, sniff and poop routine."

It turned out to be a morning they will never forget.

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"I rubbed my eyes, slipped on some trousers, stepped into my old comfy worn-out slippers, put on his tiny harness and grabbed the leash, which is the retractable type, and still kinda half asleep, put it onto the harness and opened the bedroom exterior door onto our little covered porch," Koerber said.

After that, he grabbed one of his many walking sticks that he has propped up against the exterior wall of the house near the front door.

"It was pitch dark beyond the lighted radius of the porch light to the east, just shy of the porch light's reach. I’m waiting for ChewB to do his business, which is always so mysterious with sniffs and circles and the often-deemed not-quite-satisfactory spot and on to another.

"Even though I was tired, I was aware that danger is always possible, with coyotes or stray, unattended neighbors' dogs, which have killed or wounded several of our beloved pets over the years," Koerber said.

'I knew instantly... bear"

When ChewB finally decided on his spot, Koerber said, he noticed ChewB do a "startled head turn to the woods."

"At just that time, I heard an incredibly deep-throated roar of sorts and the moving thuds of running feet and breaking branches. I knew instantly... bear," he said.

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It was a scenario he hoped he'd never have to face, but it was one he had played out many times in his mind, just in case. With ChewB a distance away – to almost full extension on the retractable leash – Koerber yanked so hard to get the little dog to him quickly that ChewB was airborne for about 10 feet.

"I had to keep him close to my feet because I needed both hands to keep this charging bear at bay. The bear was in hot pursuit of little courageous ChewB and was lunging low to get him. Meanwhile, I was taking off backward toward the porch, swinging the walking stick at the bear's nose and yelling or roaring 'No, no.' This gave a second or two for me to turn around, dragging ChewB half airborne onto the porch," Koerber said.

But the bear cut Koerber and ChewB off from the front door and lunged again at the little Yorkie. The bear's head and huge claws were between them and the door.

"Fortunately, only half of him had got onto this part of the elevated porch," Koerber said. "I had to scream and beat his head and nose with yet another walking stick now next to me to get myself and most importantly my little dog – which I could not pick up or we both would be gonners – inside."

He said he was now swinging with a broken stick at the bear's nose.

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"When I looked down, I saw ChewB had moved closer to the bear - probably to protect me. The bear lunged again, and his front paws and claws came within a couple of inches of little ChewB. I let out the deepest and loudest scream of 'no' and bashed him again," Koerber said.

In all that commotion, that's when Koerber heard 'What is it? Are you OK?' coming from the front door. It was his wife, Nancy.

"I told Nancy, 'Shut the door... it is a bear.' At that moment, I felt we maybe had a chance to get in the door. The bear had backed off a second and in we went in a flash and latched the door," Koerber said.

"ChewB and I, hearts pumping and pumping, knew we were bonded in one hell of a near very tragic event."

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Koerber and his wife have lived in Western North Carolina since 1981 and in their Beechwood Lakes home since 1988. He said they have never been attacked by a bear before.

"I have peacefully encountered them before several times while camping and also with their treks through neighborhoods. I love the bears," he said.

Following last week's attack, though, Koerber said ChewB's morning pee, sniff and poop routine will have some tweaks.

"We will be waiting till daybreak if possible. Now, along with my customary walking stick, I’ve added a small air horn and small empty plastic bottle to crinkle - and even a can of bear spray nearby. I have always been thoughtful of these possibilities, with various 'noise makers' that I can hit with a walking stick placed randomly here and there. I now also have a metal bucket closer to the porch."

Dean Hensley is the news editor for the Hendersonville Times-News, a member of the USA TODAY Network. He can be reached at DHensley@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY NETWORK: May the Fourth miracle: Star Wars-named Yorkie, NC owner fend off bear