A Florida homeowner moved quick to shoot an alligator earlier this week while it had his chocolate lab, Winston, gripped in its jaws.
“I don’t even think there was a thought,” the homeowner told Fox 35. He asked not to be identified by name.
Citing the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Click Orlando reported that the shooting occurred at around 6:30 p.m. Sunday in Deltona, Fla. Shortly after the homeowner let his dog out into his backyard, the owner heard a noise and then found the reptile attacking his dog.
“Alligators are opportunistic feeders and will eat animals that are readily available to them. They prefer to go after prey they can overpower easily,” according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. “Opportunity is the primary factor that causes an alligator to pursue prey.”
The commission has a program do deal with nuisance alligators that may be a threat to people and pets. It also allows an annual alligator harvest and issues licenses for hunting.
“I think it was – my heart just dropped, and I was like, ‘Okay, I have to go do something.’ So, I mean, you just spring into action and do what you have to do to save your dog,” said the Deltona man. “Twenty seconds later, probably would’ve had a dead dog.’”
Fox 35 said the alligator that attacked Winston was “a seven-foot-eight behemoth,” that began “chomping down” on the side of the dog’s head. Winston’s owner ultimately shot the gator four times in the skull as it held the canine in its teeth. He told the outlet he feels a bit edgy no when he lets the dog out.
Although Winston suffered a minor puncture wound on his ear, he was doing okay after the incident, said the outlet. An officer with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission was sent to to help dispose of the gator.
“The game warden said that most likely because it’s breeding season – leading up to the alligator breeding season – a lot of the alligators are going to be out, and they’re going to be looking for potential mates,” said the homeowner. “They’re going to be a little more aggressive, so if you live anywhere near water, just make sure that you’re checking your yard, because something like this can happen in a split second.”
Additionally, he said the game warden believes that the alligator was able to get on his property through a portion of fence that was damaged by hurricanes.
“One of the pegs to that barrier was damaged, leading the game warden and homeowner to figure that’s probably where the gator climbed into the backyard,” said Fox 35.
According to Click Orlando, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said it reviewed the incident and that no charges will be filed against the dog’s owner.
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