A dog was attacked by a 12-foot alligator last week in Central Florida. The dog was on a walk with its owners, a couple, who said that the gator emerged from the water and grabbed the dog.
Dog attacked by alligator
Last Friday at Riverside Park in Oviedo, Florida, Lisa McDonald and her boyfriend were walking their dog by the Little Econ River. Suddenly, an alligator measuring approximately 12 feet appeared and took the dog. McDonald’s boyfriend jumped on the alligator in an attempt to save the canine.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) obtained a permit to trap the alligator. On Sunday, a 12-foot, 6-inch gator was removed from the park.
No further information is available on the dog’s condition.
What to do if you see an alligator while walking your dog
Alligators are rampant in Florida, but they also live in bodies of water throughout the southern United States and up parts of the East Coast. Though they are notorious for living in swamps and marshes, they also dwell in rivers, ponds, and lakes. Gators become more active as temperatures warm in the spring and summer months.
According to Fox35 News, dogs can easily be mistaken for an alligator’s natural prey. The FWC suggests the following safety tips regarding gators:
- If you see an alligator, keep your distance!
- Always leash your dog and avoid the edge of bodies of water.
- Do not swim with your dog. Limit swimming to designated areas during daylight hours.
- Never feed an alligator.
More dog safety tips
Now that you know how to keep your dog safe from alligators, read up on other wild animals that will attack your dog so you can be extra vigilant. Also, check out our summer safety tips for dogs and how to keep your dog safe at barbecues.
