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| The predator. |
In an old post on the geography of American terrier work, I note that while Florida and Louisiana have a lot of Nutria (aka Coypu), they also have a lot of Alligators (millions in each state) which tends to discourage terrier work.
A reminder of this set of facts comes from The Tampa Tribune:
TAMPA - Lizabeth, the Jack Russell terrier, was on her afternoon walk today on the banks of the Hillsborough River when its owner heard splashing.
"When I looked real close, the gator had her in his mouth," said Lizabeth's owner Tom Martino.
Martino, who has a concealed weapons permit, pulled out his handgun and started shooting at the water around the alligator.
The 6-foot-4 alligator wrestled Lizabeth in the water and then let her go. Using a rod, Martino was able to rescue his dog. He then performed CPR on her.
"She coughed up a bunch of water," said Martino, who had never performed CPR on a dog. "I was scared. That's my little baby."
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| The prey. |
11 comments:
Is he saying he shot the water "around" the alligator because he's such an animal lover he couldn't bear to hurt the alligator for doing what came natural... or because he doesn't want to face the wrath that comes from the AR nutjobs if it comes out there's an alligator out there somewhere with a bullet hole in it?
I'm not a fan of guns, even though I've trained bird dogs and I believe that responsible people have a right to own one.
That being said, faced with one of my dogs in the jaws of a gator, the last thing I would have been aiming at was the water.
This guy deserves an award - either for having the presence of mind to lie about shooting the gator or for having the actual self control to end the emergency with the gator intact.
Admittedly, I would have had neither. I'd like to think I would have, or say I would have... but I'd be lying.
No one cares if you shoot a gator in Florida, provided you are not a systematic hide poacher. The reason this guy was firing around the gator was that he did not want to hit his dog!
In fact, if he had simply waded in kicking and screaming, that gator would have turned tail. Gators are pretty docile up to about 7 feet when they get big enough to be a problem and are fished out of ponds using shark rods, massive hooks, and wire leaders. The gators are then "removed" or "relocated" which in almost all cases means they are shot and turned into wallets. No shortage of gators in this country, and anyone in Florida should have more sense than to have a loose dog aroud a pond or canal.
P
I did consider that Patrick... but even being the poor shot that I am I know I could hit the side of a gator without hitting my dog in his mouth.
I assumed since this guy had a license to carry a concealed weapon that more than a few of his hours had been spent at a firing range.
A lot of assumption on my part, I agree - but my immediate concern would have been that the shots around the gator would cause him to snatch his prize and retreat to the water, which would have been a horrible turn of events.
I suppose you don't know what you'd do until you're there, and who knows where the gator was in relation to the owner.
One thing we are in FULL agreement on however - what kind of idiot lets his dog play around a body of water in gator country?
I've heard stories of dogs gone missing in a swampy area and then their collar locators being followed to a gator. Nope, never let the dog run loose in a swamp area. If the gators don't get them something else will, maybe even a smart ole coon will drown them.
Debi and the leashed TX JRTs.
TDH, never make assumptions about anything related to Florida making sense, being logical, informed or anything else normal. My parents both retired there (separately), and I had relatives there for years before that, so I visited a lot. My father had a concealed carry permit, and he was a complete danger by the time he got it. That I am aware, he never had to go to the range or keep up with his training at all. In the military he'd been an expert marksman, but that was years before he got to Florida. I think they were after his cleared check for the permit fee. Does this sound harsh? Maybe, but it's my true experience. He had no business having a CC permit, nor a driver's license, but he had both.
Floridians often get into gator trouble because they FEED them. Then, the gators lose their fear of humans and come crashing through their decorative glass doors after Fido and Kitty. Sorry for my rant, but there is zero about Florida that I love except my mother who still lives there. I love her lots.
Seahorse, possibly cranky and offensive, but standing by her story ;)
Last night on Dogs 101 they were highlighting Rat Terriers and one little guy was nearly eaten by a SHARK, but his owner jumped in the water and landed on the shark with both fists. This made the shark turn the little dog loose and he popped up like a cork. The man grabbed him and rushed him to the vets. The little guy survived but with lots of skin and muscle injuries.
In my opinion, Brave men both!
And yeah, it was in Florida too. I was watching some critter catcher show, and the guy was telling the homeowners that alligators can scale a chain link fience by using their claws and tails. So, there ya go.
Debi and the TX JRTs. Tx has gators too but not here where I live so far.
Debi
You have a point, Seahorse - and a valid one.
My viewpoint is a bit skewed - you see, I live in Canada. Whenever I travel through the states, the signs in gas stations with the gun and the line through it saying "no concealed weapons allowed" makes me want to run screaming back to my car and lock all the doors. Our cultures are so similar in so many ways, but as far as guns are concerned... well, unless we're trekking through field or forest, we just don't have that much use for them.
And as for Florida, it's funny, but the only experience I have with the state is through my grandparents. Personally (no offense meant to any Floridian readers) I can't understand the draw. Every year we all take turns deciding who's going to drive down with Grandma and fly back, and then the reverse in the spring when she comes back.
I always dread my turn.
So maybe the truth of the story is that he was aiming for the gator... and missed! ;O)
Regardless, that's one lucky dog, and hopefully an owner who has learned a valuable lesson (too much to wish for?).
And Seahorse - I can take cranky, and even offensive, as long as you have a valid point. And you certainly do. I've known to be cranky and offensive myself occasionally. ;O)
Oh, dear, want a laugh? Click on the link and read the comments section below the article. It's a slug-fest between those with sense and the wannabe swamp cowboys who probably can't draw themselves out of their easy chairs, let alone safely operate a firearm. I rest my case, Your Honor, lol.
Seahorse
I grew up in South Florida and did a good deal of hunting and tramping about in the woods. Most everyone I know had a story about a dog lost to a gator. They are the perfect lunch.
A close family friend had a visla grabbed and pulled in a canal by a large gator. The owner, without thinking leaped in the water after the dog, whacked the gator on the head and pulled the dog to safety. He pointed out that it was not the smartest move, but it worked.
Seahorse - omg, you were so right.
I think this one says it all:
"Srr, you are truly a moron, but as you are probably a yankee to boot, we can't hold it against you. He wasn't "hunting out of season", he was protecting his beloved pet in his own backyard. He should have put the rounds into the gator like I have done when one grabbed my dog in MY backyard on the Peace river. My dog lived, and enjoyed some of the gator meat later."
They weren't "walking the banks", their backyard went all the way down to the river!!
Holyfreakingidiot.
I'm just glad the dog is doing ok - I hope she makes it, it looks like there are some complications. It would be tragic if she had to pay for her owner being a complete and utter MORON.
My mother, who art in Florida, says their evening news reported the dog's owner shot the gator twice and killed it. They were playing up the "thank god he had a gun" angle rather than the dipshit angle. Guess you're a Floridian for the first and a Yankee for the second, lol.
Seahorse
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