During one of their daily walks, the friendship between a Florida man and his pet dog was put to the ultimate test. The Cavalier puppy was caught in an alligator’s jaws, causing the dog owner to act.
Couple Richard and Louise Wilbanks have recently adopted Gunner, a small Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Richard and the dog created a bond unlike any other the moment they met.
The two went for a walk every day, frequently along the edge of a nearby pond. However, a walk on this specific Sunday offered a scary event that neither of them had anticipated, since most of their morning strolls were peaceful.
In the water, a 4-foot-long alligator was observing Gunner’s every move. In the flash of an eye, the alligator leaped from the water and seized Gunner using his massive jaws.
Richard jumped into the water without hesitation before Gunner was submerged. He recognized he had only a few seconds left until his puppy was gone, and he could not allow that to happen. Richard got the alligator’s jaws in his grasp just seconds after plunging into the murky water. He began prying the jaw open, resulting in a thirty-second struggle that tested his strength.
Gunner was soon freed from the alligator’s jaws, thanks to Richard’s rapid thinking. As a result of Gunner’s prompt release, the alligator clamped down on Richard’s hand, causing him to struggle to free his arm.
Gunner escaped with only a minor abdominal puncture wound. Richard’s severe hand injuries did not prevent him from ensuring his dog’s safety, so he went the dog to the local veterinarian to make sure that his pet was okay.
After a few tests, the veterinarian determined that Gunner’s abdominal puncture was not life-threatening. Despite suffering a minor injury, Gunner managed to consume a considerable amount of water during the incident. A few days were spent in the hospital to ensure his recovery from this traumatic event.
After recovering from their injuries, Gunner and Richard realized that the entire thing had been recorded on a CCTV. The Wilbanks had enough time to reflect on what had happened and have gained valuable insight as a result. Richard recommends that all pet owners always keep their dogs on a leash and walk them at least 10 feet away from any kind of water form.
Source: ABC7 News Bay Area