Woman jumps in front of giant crocodile to save her dog
Unprovoked attacks by alligators are rare in Florida, but when they do, it’s a big deal. New residents of Florida are often not aware of the risks associated with walking near water, so they may not be as careful as expected. One woman and her dog figured it out the hard way.
An alligator pounced on the woman’s dog, but the woman used her torso as a shield to protect her furry friend. Now, the dog is safe, but the woman is hospitalized. This event should be used as a warning to other Florida residents to be careful around the ravines.
Anything for a best friend
The woman was walking her dog in Pinellas County near her neighborhood pond when a 7-foot alligator suddenly jumped out of the water toward the dog. Woman shield her dog from the gator, but instead, the reptile bit her leg. Neighbor Gene Vance witnessed the attack and called 9-1-1 for the woman’s boyfriend to come help.
“The gator tried to get the dog but she grabbed the dog pretty quickly. But in turn, she slipped and fell and the man had her foot just below the knee.” Vance said. “[Her boyfriend] take off your pants to make a checkered out. How bad is that. To try to stop the bleeding. “
First responders rushed the woman to the hospital after the incident. She saved her dog’s lifebut she lost a lot of blood in the process.
Several neighbors had seen the large alligator before and many residents suspected the attack. The alligator approached the officers as they arrived, so it looks like someone was feeding the wild animal. One resident said they also saw children teasing the crocodile.
Stay safe around Gators
Officials pulled the alligator out of the pond, but neighbors were adamant that something more needed to be done. The only alligator warning sign on the grounds is so blurry it’s hard to read. Residents believe that movers should be warned about traveling near bodies of water. Although rare, crocodile attacks are not something you want to deal with.
Neighbor Amy Pounder said: ‘There needs to be more vigilance. “We need to be prepared when you move here. No one said watch out.”
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission reports that alligators are usually seen during their breeding season in May, June and July. They are also most active at dusk and dawn.
“It’s one of those things – you know the slots are there,” says Vance. “You see these things happen to other people but you never expect it to happen to you, so you just need to take precautions and stay away from the lakeshore.”
If the woman hadn’t stepped in, her dog might not have survived. However, not all victims are so lucky. When walking your dog in areas where rats live, stay away from the water’s edge and always be aware of your surroundings.
H/T: wtsp.com
Featured pictures: Pixabay and Screenshots, Fox 13 Tampa Bay YouTube