Posted on 06/13/2016 12:51:26 AM PDT by nickcarraway
A veteran's service dog was killed by an alligator at the Port LaBelle Marina.
Robert Lineberger is epileptic and depended on his medical alert dog, Precious, for more than six years.
Lineberger recently moved into the marina about a month ago, where he lives on his sailboat. He stepped onto the dock and never saw what was coming.
"It was pitch black, and I really didn't hear anything until I rounded the corner, and then I heard like claws," he said.
Precious started guarding her owner as he was being threatened by a 13-foot alligator on the dock.
"My service dog stepped out in front of me to protect me, and the gator grabbed a hold of her front legs."
An image, he said, will never be erased from his mind.
Other neighbors living at the marina have spotted the 13-foot gator making the marina home. Now, people are taking extra precautions after the recent attack.
Florida Fish and Wildlife had multiple reports from people at Port LaBelle Marina regarding the nuisance gator after Precious was killed.
"It's just an everyday ordeal you know, just like clockwork," said Denise McPherson.
But NBC2 spoke with the dock master, Peter Sullivan, who said he believes the gator should remain in its natural habitat and that the issue is merely hearsay.
FWC said without permission from the landowner, they can't remove the gator.
Neighbors are growing frustrated that the gator will be remaining at the marina and are asking for lighting to be installed where there is none.
Sullivan said residents are allowed to have solar panels, but those cannot be nailed to any of the dock posts.
"It could have been avoided if there was proper lighting where you could see," Lineberger said. "I cannot allow her death to go unnoticed, and it's got to make a difference here."
Put something special into a roasting chicken and feed the bastard.
Because dogs...
How sad.
About a pound of Tannerite in the chicken and a 5.7X28mm chaser.
Rather than a roasting chicken, put something into the dock master, Peter Sullivan, and feed the alligator. Why waste a good chicken?
Where is LIZ! when you need her?
How great is it the libcucks didn’t let these damn lizards die out back in the day... /sarc
Having lived in Florida for a year, on a lake, the one thing you ALWAYS do before letting the dog(s) outside is turn on the lights, and make sure no gators are around.
Especially late at night.
Thanks for the ping.
My heart goes out to this fellow, terrible way to lose your dog.
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