In Philomath, near the Oregon State University campus, in 2009, Loren Wingert's tiny smooth-haired chihuahua Chiquita, in order to save a friend's life, stood up to a cougar that had come inside the fenced back yard.

The cougar had gotten in an Oregon backyard and pinned down Chiquita the chihuahua's best buddy, a little border terrier, Rosie.

As Rosie yiped in terror, Chiquita came barrelling through the dog-door to the rescue, yapping with maximum ferocity. The cougar took one look at the little hellion of a courageous chihuahua, let Rosie go, and fled back into the forest.