A Texas family says their beloved pooch saved their lives when he attacked a gunman who opened fire at a 13-year-old’s birthday party.

Laura Martinez was hosting the bash for her youngest daughter at her Houston home on March 9 when a teen boy who was known to the family burst in with a gun. The shooter fired eight shots, hitting Martinez in the leg, her son, Taylor Hollier, in the foot, and her stepdaughter, Valerie Pace, near her spine and in her thigh, according to a GoFundMe.

The family dog, a Great Pyrenees named Zero, was shot three times after he attacked the gunman — once after he bit the shooter in the arm, and twice after Zero knocked him to the ground, the family said. Zero died later from his wounds.

The family believes Zero saved their lives by forcing the shooter’s arm lower as he fired.

“He jumped up to protect us and never showed any fear, even when he was struck,” Pace told ABC 13.

“I’m gonna miss him a lot,” Martinez added.

Harris County police identified the alleged shooter as Javian Castenada. The family said Castenada broke into their home the night before the party and stole some things.

As of late last week, police were still on the hunt for Castenada, who they said was “armed and dangerous.” He is wanted on three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

A spokesperson for Harris County Constable Precinct 2 was not immediately available for comment.