Jordan Councill Sr.’s (1769-1839) dog treed something near Boone one dark and drizzly night, up a white pine tree. He assumed it was a coon and climbed the tree to make the coon jump out. He said when he got near to it, it climbed farther on up the tree, and he noticed an unusual amount of bark and trash fall. He went on after it and got close enough for it to drag its tail across his face. He knew then it was a panther. He climbed down in a hurry and went home, got his gun and a torch, and shot the panther out. It measured ten feet from the tip of its nose to the tip of its tail. Jordan's son,  Jesse Councill (1797-died before 1880) went hunting along New River but before he left, he told his dog to stay home. As he was walking along a path, he heard a dog growl behind him. His dog, in fact, had followed him. Looking around to see what the dog was growling at, he noticed up ahead of him a tree that was leaning across the path. On the tree was a large panther, crouched and ready to pounce. He shot it. Jesse was convinced that his dog had saved his life.