Florida teen speaks out after being attacked by bear while walking dog

EASTPOINT, FRANKLIN COUNTY, Fla. (KABC) -- A Florida teenager who was attacked by a bear as she walked her dog is speaking out about her ordeal for the first time. Her dog may have helped saved her life.

Leah Reeder, 15, was walking her dog, Ralph, near her home in Eastpoint, Florida, earlier this week when the attack happened.

"In school they always told you to play dead, and it worked because it stopped biting me as soon as I stopped screaming," she said. "I realized that nobody was going to come, because nobody could hear me."

But Ralph, her 25-pound Springer Spaniel, saw what was happening and began barking.

"He's seen me dragging me, and he was freaking out barking, and then he started running up, and the bear lost his grip and fell in the ditch," she said.

The dog scared off the 200 pound bear.

From there, Reeder was able to walk home, where her parents called 911.

"I'm very thankful the dog was there," said Reeder's mother, Sherry Mann.

Reeder is recovering from wounds to the neck, head, back and arms.

"I'm mainly just glad my daughter is home alive and well," said Reeder's father, Kenny.

ABC News contributed to this report.