Posted on 09/19/2012 9:42:57 AM PDT by DeFault User
A stunned Steve Gustafson thought only of saving his "best friend" from the jaws of a 7-foot alligator carrying away his terrier...
Gustafson, a resident of The Villages retirement community northwest of Orlando, recalled Tuesday he was trimming his oak tree while the gator lurked in a quiet pond nearby. Bounce, a butterfly-chasing West Highland Terrier, was at the water's edge when Gustafson heard a blood-curdling yelp. Terrified, he looked out and watched the gator swimming away with Bounce's shoulder and collar in his grasp.
"I just knew that my best friend was going to be dead," he said. "And I took off."
Gustafson scrambled screaming to the water's edge and took a running leap. After a frenzied struggle with the gator, the 66-year-old grandfather and retired corporate lawyer told wildlife authorities that he successfully rescued Bounce — and both dog and master escaped serious injury in the frightening encounter Friday.
"For whatever reason, I don't know, I just yelled, 'you're not going to get her!' and just leaped on the gator…just like you do some silly belly flop in a pool," the Iowa native said. "The only difference was I landed on top of a gator."
Within seconds he said he wrangled the reptile's head to the bottom of the pond while grabbing its back leg. The 130-pound gator spun trying to submerge them all in 3 feet of water, but Gustafson regained his balance and shoved the gator toward the shore, a move that freed the diminutive Bounce, who weighs 13 pounds. The pooch slowly paddled for safety as Gustafson tossed the startled gator back into the pond, but not before it snapped at his right hand.
Shaken, soaked and bruised, Gustafson snatched Bounce and dashed to the shore with the wounded 9-year-old dog in his arms.
(Excerpt) Read more at articles.orlandosentinel.com ...
Gators should be hunted mercilessly.
They’re good for only three thing.
Shoes, belts, and luggage.
leave it to those native Iowans..
"....I spent all summer throwing a ball that far...and this day, the old guys hearing is good"
Its an understandable move for the master to reciprocate such devotion.
LOVE this story! It sure put a grin on my face.
Actually, they are not bad eating either. I tried it once in a Brazilian restaurant that had all types of meat.
And purses - really expensive purses.
I trim my tree with a chain saw.
Chain saws work really well when fighting gators.
This happens all the time at the Villages. You are told to keep an eye on your pet and don’t have a pet that runs free like a cat because there is a good chance they will get eaten.
Doggie ping, Joe!
It’s a fact I love reptiles but gators and crocs?
You’re right on.
[I hear they’re good eatin’, too]
The odds are extremely high that my death will involve saving an animal.
I’m kinda stupid that way.
That’s some liiiive action!
That’s live action! Ih ih ih ih ih ih.....
Nothing will save these Dogs from the Gators.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.