DELTONA, FLORIDA — A homeowner in Deltona, Florida had a frightening encounter with a seven-foot-eight alligator in his backyard when it attacked his dog, Winston.
The homeowner, who asked to remain anonymous, said he noticed his dog sniffing around outside and went to investigate when he saw the alligator, according to Fox 45.
At the same time, the gator spotted Winston and lunged at him, clamping down on the side of his head. Without hesitation, the homeowner fired four shots at the gator’s skull, saving Winston’s life.
In an interview with FOX 35, the homeowner said, “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. Twenty seconds later, probably would’ve had a dead dog.”
Although Winston survived the attack with only a minor puncture wound on his ear, the homeowner learned a valuable lesson about the dangers of living near water during alligator breeding season.
“The game warden said that most likely because it’s breeding season, a lot of the alligators are going to be out, and they’re going to be looking for potential mates. 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,” he said.
The homeowner also noted that the gator likely entered his backyard through a damaged portion of his fence, which was damaged during hurricanes and now has a temporary four-foot barrier blocking it.
He plans to be more cautious in the future and double-check his yard before letting his dog out alone. While he isn’t necessarily nervous about going outside, he does feel more aware of his surroundings.
In conclusion, the homeowner’s quick thinking and actions saved Winston’s life, and this story serves as a reminder of the importance of being vigilant and cautious when living near water during alligator breeding season.